OFFICIALS in the Office of the President at Harambee House and their counterparts at State House are locked in a tug-of-war over who should control President Uhuru Kenyatta’s diary.
While those at Harambee House want to organize and book all the political events of the President, those at State House want to control the entire diary or schedule, insisting that they have the final say, according to sources close to the conflict.
The behind-the-scenes fights over the crucial gatekeeper’s function have resulted in confusion, double bookings and sometimes blame games among the President’s handlers.
The confusion and infighting has been witnessed in two recent incidents touching on the President’s visit to Migori and Kisumu counties, with officials around Kenyatta giving conflicting information.
Director of Political Affairs Joshua Kuttuny had been quoted in the media confirming the President would tour the region. But the tour has since been postponed twice and on Thursday this week the tour again was put off, for the third time, reportedly because of an overcrowded presidential diary.
Interestingly, Kenyatta’s third proposed visit to Kisumu coincided with the arrival of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, and World Bank President Jim Yong Kim had not arrived on Wednesday, raising questions whether the President’s handlers were working together. In another case in September, Uhuru would not meet more than 300 people who were ferried to Nairobi to apologise to him over the botched rally in Migori on September 8.
Kenyatta and Migori Governor Okoth Obado were presiding over distribution of mosquito nets but the event could not proceed after rowdy youths disrupted the ceremony by heckling Obado and throwing shoes at the dais where he was joined by the President. It is understood the big apology meeting was not in the President’s diary, even though Kuttuny had indicated time would be made for it.
“The President’s diary was full today, so we have been informed that the meeting may take place tomorrow,” Kuttuny told the Star on September 18.
Uhuru met the delegation two days later. Essentially, State House Comptroller Lawrence Lenayapa is in charge of the President’s diary and State House Spokesperson Manoah Esipisu communicates the President’s activities, among other duties. Yesterday, Manoah emphasised that Kenyatta’s diary cannot be thrown together on an ad hoc basis, saying he is the only spokesperson of the President.
“I am the President’s spokesperson, no one else. I will announce when and where the President is going to at any given time. (As for) the Kisumu trip, I haven’t but I will let the public know when such a decision has been made,” Manoah told the Star yesterday.
“The President’s diary cannot be agreed in the street. Anything else in friction with any government office will not be allowed. No one other than the designated officers can book events, all diarised items have to be agreed by the President himself,” he said.
– the-star.co.ke
