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Eric Ng’eno (left), Munyori Buku and Dennis Itumbi/CFM NEWS
Storm at State House as PSCU Directors suspended
NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 29 – Four directors of the Presidential Strategic Communications Unit (PSCU) were on Wednesday suspended from office, over what sources said was “conflicting messaging.”
Those affected are Eric Ng’eno, Munyori Buku, Dennis Itumbi and James Kinyua.
“Manoah Esipisu remains in office,” a source in State House said without providing much detail.
The suspensions were contained in a memo from the Office of the Chief of Staff, and followed a series of conflicting communication stretching back several months from the Presidency, according to the source.
At the heart of the latest spat is a story emanating from the New York Times on the International Criminal Court.
The NY Times gave details of lengthy correspondence with State House on the matter, but a statement ostensibly released by some of the PSCU Directors appeared to question the integrity of the NY Times.
A rebuttal sent out to media on official email appeared to suggest that the NY Times never made attempt to seek comment from State House, yet the newspaper has documented a series of correspondence from officials in the Presidency.
On Wednesday, as Esipisu was in Botswana with President Kenyatta, all PSCU staff reporting for duty were ordered to return to their homes and await further instructions.
Whereas news on the President’s whereabouts is relayed by PSCU, a story on Kenyatta’s return was penned by the Deputy President’s Press Unit, “since PSCU staff did not have access to their offices.”
Esipisu returned to the country on Wednesday afternoon with President Kenyatta, before news filtered on the suspensions.
It’s understood that relations between Esipisu and the directors working under him have been strained since he assumed office.
