Dennis Ole Itumbi became a household name in Kenya owing to his immense contribution to the 2022 August 9 General Election.
Even before launching the Hustler Nations Intelligence Bureau (HNIB), which kept President William Ruto’s followers abreast, the once self-declared pig farmer reveled in the trappings of power.
But if crafting strategies that saw former President Uhuru Kenyatta assume power in 2013 can be listed as one of Itumbi’s biggest milestones, achieving the same fete twice with Ruto must top the list.
The digital strategist earned a place in President Ruto's inner circle and high table, not only for his successful campaign strategies but also for his loyalty. He understood that loyalty is one of Ruto’s highest marks of friendship.
As Ruto thanked the best campaign team and volunteers in the history of Kenyan politics, those who sacrificed their lives and survived all kinds of tribulations to stand steadfast by his side, he was making a point.
Behind those words lay a team that was certain to change how elections are fought long into the future. From ethnic and divisive politics to a united nation, from a trickle-down to a bottom-up economy, from power brokers to the hustlers.
In the core was one man who was not broken by alleged witchhunts nor any other forces that seemed intent on coercing him to change his resolve.
In 2018, Itumbi left his role as the State House Secretary for Digital, Innovations, and New Media Communication.
Due to the redundancy of roles in the Presidential Strategic Communications Unit (PSCU), Itumbi was fired as the Digital and Diaspora Communications Senior Director two years later, in 2020.
In December 2021, he made headlines after he claimed to have been kidnapped by six rogue undercover police officers along Thindigua along Kiambu Road.
According to Itumbi, his abductors told him to change his political stance. Besides being handcuffed, he was roughed up with crude weapons.
He alleged this was a reward for his loyalty to Ruto.
However, for a man who was once expelled from his school for resigning as a prefect because he did not support the school's policies, Itumbi had seen it all.
As a ‘seller of ideas,’ he hatched some communication ideas that propelled William Ruto and his deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, to power.
He narrated how he coached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to outwit Azimio La Umoja Coalition running mate Martha Karua at the Deputy Presidential debate on July 19.
Hustler nation worked hard. In between the campaigns, we practised for the debates. Nothing was taken for granted.
“We even had a 'Martha Karua', whose brief was to annoy the then Deputy Presidential candidate Rigathi Gachagua,” Itumbi stated, detailing how the team focused on mock interviews and debates to prepare for gruesome battles.
At a tender age, Itumbi fancied growing up to be a lawyer before venturing into media.
Itumbi has worked at the Standard Newspaper, Voice of America, Royal Media Services, Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), and Baraka FM.
During his free time, Itumbi is a passionate avocado farmer.
Here is the full list of the Top 100 Kenyans 2022.
