The silent divisions between officials working in the Presidency on Wednesday played out in the cameras after State House Secretary of Digital and Innovation Dennis Itumbi was chased away from the VIP podium at the Bomas of Kenya.
Humiliating moment
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Itumbi had in the past been a key aide to President Uhuru Kenyatta but has in the recent past been working for Deputy President William Ruto.
However, his favor among President Kenyatta's team appears to have faded as he has taken a more active role in Ruto's media team.
On Wednesday, Presidential guards were seen kicking out Itumbi from the Presidential podium where he had been standing behind Ruto.
In a rather humiliating incident, one of the guards went as far as to physically assist the blogger as he appeared to plead to pick something from the podium.
The State House official is currently facing a criminal case in which he is accused to have authored a fake letter raising allegations of an attempt by senior government officials to assassinate the deputy president.
UPDATE: Itumbi has since clarified that he was manhandled in a case of mistaken identity claiming the presidential guards mistook for his brother, adding that he was rescued shortly after by a colleague.
"I had a beautiful moment as I left Bomas a few moments ago...with the Deputy Escort Commander, State House who kept telling me,we know you are NOT Dennis Itumbi but his brother...Hahaa! Lucky for me, a colleague saved me..a few minutes later he (escort commander) was clearing the road for me," he said in a rejoinder.
Video courtesy of Daily Nation: