Former Digital Communications Director at the Presidential Strategic Communications Unit Dennis Itumbi when he was arrested in 2012 over claims he hacked into the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) website
Nairobi-based Digital strategist and vocal political commentator Dennis Itumbi found himself on the spot on Tuesday this week after the Judiciary shared the ruling made by the Political Parties and Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) suspending the recent Jubilee-KANU merger which has sent Kenya back into politics mode.
It emerged that the version shared out by Ruto allies led by Itumbi and allegedly presented to Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka was forged, as certain sections significantly differ from the original.
Itumbi had shared the ruling as he spoke against the removal of Kipchumba Murkomen and Susan Kihika as Majority Leader and Whip in the Senate respectively.
The Political Parties Tribunal rules that the KANU and Jubilee Post Election deal is ILLEGAL.
Jubilee NEC must be convened for such a decision to be made
The same has been communicated to Senate.
So, The Senate Leadership remains as it is.#SystemYaFacts pic.twitter.com/Ui7v6GQNdu
— Dennis Itumbi, HSC (@OleItumbi) May 12, 2020
For instance, In Itumbi’s ruling, the fifth-order claimed that any decision founded on the coalition agreement between Jubilee and Kanu was invalid, null, and void.
In the version shared by the Judiciary, the section read differently as it temporarily halted the decision by the Registrar of Political Parties to recognize the coalition agreement deposited on May 4.
PPDT APPEAL NO. 1 OF 2020. The order granted by the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) yesterday May 11, 2020 and issued today May 12, 2020. pic.twitter.com/DjBOWJfsz9
— The Judiciary Kenya (@Kenyajudiciary) May 12, 2020
It is the alleged communication to the Senate that has sparked a furor, with a letter shared by Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna indicating that Murkomen and Kihika had presented the forged tribunal ruling to Senate Speaker Ken Lusaka.
The letter, sent from Victor Lee Legal on behalf of their client, Jubilee Secretary General Raphael Tuju, claimed that he had been served with the falsified ruling.
Differences were also noticeable in the sixth order given in the two versions of the ruling.
SEE ALSO: Dennis Itumbi Sued Over Child Support
Through social media, a section of Kenyans demanded the arrest of Itumbi over the damning forgery allegations.
Trending under the hashtag #ArrestItumbiForForgeries, Twitter users urged relevant authorities to take charge and put Itumbi behind bars.
Majority of them linked Itumbi to the forgeries and spreading of fake news that he is reported to have shared through his platform.
Responding to calls for his apprehension, Itumbi made it clear that only cowards are afraid of jail, adding that the walls of prison only add more fuel to his passion.
“Bring it on!,” he dared the government.
Some people live in HASHTAG prisons. Their paths on these streets are covered by the DARKNESS of their TWEETS. Let me leave a word for them, HANDCUFFS only scare COWARDS like them. My ZEAL and FOCUS is HEAVEN high, jail walls always add fuel to the PASSION. Bring it on!
— Dennis Itumbi, HSC (@OleItumbi) May 13, 2020
Unflattering imitation…
This is not the first time Itumbi has been on the receiving end regarding claims of forgery. Last year, Itumbi and his co-accused Samuel Gateri were charged over a letter alleging a plot to assassinate Deputy president William Ruto.
According to the charge sheet presented in court, the two, on or before June 20, 2019, published a letter dated May 30, 2019 with intent to cause anxiety to the general public.
Itumbi was also charged with making and publishing a false document without authority as well as reprogramming a mobile phone, Samsung note 9 pertaining the fake assassination of the DP.
