Dennis Itumbi: Uhuru was told to fire me for supporting Jacque Maribe
Head of Presidential Special Projects and Creative Economy Coordination Dennis Itumbi has revealed that retired President Uhuru Kenyatta once came under pressure to dismiss him from his State House role due to his unwavering support for Jacque Maribe during her court battles.
Speaking in an interview on Thursday, September 4, 2025, Itumbi said that following Maribe’s arrest, some individuals close to the then Head of State pushed for his removal, arguing that it was inappropriate for the president’s digital strategist to publicly associate with a murder suspect.
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“We must thank President Uhuru Kenyatta, the retired president. Because when the news about Jacque broke, at that time, I was the digital strategist at State House. Guys went to him and told him, ‘President, you cannot be supporting a murder suspect.’ Even if they are friends publicly.”
Itumbi recalled that President Uhuru personally called him at the time to raise the matter.
He narrated that he stood firm and told the president that for him, the issue was not about protecting a job but about defending a longstanding friendship.
He emphasised that Maribe was first and foremost his friend before being a public figure and that abandoning her during her lowest moment would have been inhumane.
“And I remember Jacque was also the president’s friend. I remember the president even called me and told me, ‘What is this, guys are giving me pressure to fire you.’ So I told him, you know, it is a choice between what is right in my view and what I think would be inhumane for me to do. Simply because I hold a job, I cannot hold back the fact that Jacque is a public figure but she is my friend. She is first my friend and then a public figure. She is my friend,” he added.
The digital strategist further recounted how he reminded Kenyatta of his own experiences during the International Criminal Court proceedings, when both he and then Deputy President William Ruto were accused of serious crimes.
Itumbi said that he and Maribe had stood by the president during that time regardless of the charges, and he felt it was only right to extend the same loyalty to her.
“I explained to him, and I told him, ‘Mr President, when yourself and the then deputy president were arrested and taken to The Hague you were accused of murder, rape and many things. We stood by you, together with Jacque. It did not matter what you were charged with, you were our friends. In the same way, I believe I have a responsibility and that the law at the end of time will prove to me that she did not commit this crime. And even if she did, she is still my friend and I have a responsibility to stand with her,” Itumbi revealed.
He noted that Uhuru listened keenly and reassured him that standing by a friend did not equate to endorsing the allegations they faced.
According to Itumbi, the president gave him confidence to continue offering his support to Maribe, even promising to shield him from any attempts to undermine his role at State House.
“And the president listened and told me, ‘By standing with her you are not endorsing what she has been charged with. Please go on.’ And with that all the guys who were putting pressure were scattered away. And he told me, ‘In the event anyone comes with anything that compromises your job, please call me immediately.’ So he gave us the best support in this issue,” Itumbi said.
Itumbi added that although the president could not openly intervene in the case due to the legal processes involved, he offered strong backing in the background, ensuring that those pressing for his dismissal were silenced.
He added that this behind-the-scenes support not only strengthened his resolve to stand by Maribe but also demonstrated Uhuru’s appreciation for loyalty and friendship, even in politically delicate circumstances.
“Then he was president so we understood he could not have gone on the mic and said, ‘Release Jacque.’ He had to allow the course of the law to take its course. But in the background he gave us the confidence to support each other.”
Author
Steve Ireri
Steve is a senior writer with over four years of experience in digital journalism. His focus is on the showbiz and human interest stories. Emails: [email protected] , [email protected]
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