- According to Itumbi, Ruto was the first person to be removed from the WhatsApp group.
- He went on to say that the group was deleted after highly classified documents in it were being shared to other groups.
Image: HANDOUT
Head of Creative Economy and Special Projects in the Office of the President Dennis Itumbi has responded to Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua claim that he was removed from President William Ruto's diary WhatsApp group.
According to Itumbi, Ruto was the first person to be removed from the WhatsApp group.
He went on to say that the group was deleted after highly classified documents in it were being shared to other groups.
"Yes, the Diary group was deleted. What DP @rigathi fails to mention is that the President was removed even before him, and The group was permanently Deleted due to the highly classified documents being shared in WhatsApp groups," Itumbi said.
His remarks came after Gachagua lamented his removal and some of his staff from the group.
He said that it had made it difficult for him to work efficiently.
He cited missing important presidential events due to a lack of information about them.
The DP added that if he is not present in any presidential function, it is because he is not aware of it.
He, however, said that he would find the right time to talk to the president and sort out the issue.
"I always align my diary with that of the President, all the time, and as long as I'm aware of that function, I align accordingly. Sometimes if I'm not aware, I'm unable to align because I also have my programme," he said during an interview with Citizen TV.
"We have a WhatsApp group diary for the President where I'm there; my Chief of Staff is there, and all his issues are there, so we align. About a week ago, we were removed from that diary, so we are not able to follow exactly what is going on, we are unable to align."
The DP said that when he is aware of Ruto's programmes, he always shows up.
Gachagua alleged mischief from the people who removed him from the President's diary in a bid to paint him as an 'abscondee'.
"Sometimes they want me to get late so that it appears disrespectful. I want to ask the people who work around the presidency not to create conflict between the President and me. I'm the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya elected by the people and the Principal Assistant," the DP added.
"It is only right and fair that I have access to the Presidential Diary so that I align my diary with his diary because he is the boss, but if I'm in the dark and I don't know what is happening, I'm not an angel to know where the President would be at what time, then it is not right."