The Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei, has also dissociated himself from an article in a local daily that linked him to an alleged plan to acquire spying software.
In a statement issued hot on the heels of a similar press release by National Treasury PS Chris Kiptoo, Koskei also demanded a retraction of the article and a public apology.
“Failure to comply with this demand will leave me with no option but to pursue legal redress to protect the name, stature, and image of this office,” he stated.
Koskei said the individual at the centre of article is a stranger to him.
He stated that the story itself acknowledges that the only time he was purportedly supposed to meet the person, the meeting never took place.
“To my knowledge, as Chief of Staff and Head of the Public Service, I am not aware of any procurement of such software by the government. Furthermore, there is no government need, nor will there ever be a need, for such software,” he added.
He also took exception to the use of his name and photograph “in this misleading report.”
“No effort was made to contact me for my response before publishing this defamatory and baseless claim. This omission is not only irresponsible but also appears to be a deliberate attempt to tarnish my reputation,” he added.
Earlier on, Kiptoo dismissed claims that he had been sued over a plan to acquire spying software.
Kiptoo demanded an immediate retraction of the story and a public apology for what he termed harm caused to his reputation and character.
“Should the newspaper fail to take corrective action, I reserve the right to pursue all legal remedies available to protect my name,” he stated in a statement posted on X by the Ministry of National Treasury & Economic Planning.
Kiptoo insisted that accuracy, fairness, and professionalism are critical to maintaining the credibility of the media and ensuring the public remains informed of the truth.
The PS noted that the article features his image and implicates him in an alleged plan to acquire classified technology for propaganda purposes.
“These allegations are absolutely unfounded,” he said.
Kiptoo said he has never met or interacted with the individual alleged to have filed a lawsuit.