Tuesday's appointments by President Uhuru Kenyatta through ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru could be the beginning of serious revamping of government communication department, which has struggled since the exit of current Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua in 2012.
Mr Mucheru dropped former Police Spokesman Erick Kiraithe, replacing him with career military officer, Colonel (Rtd) Cyrus Oguna, whose tenure as first Public Communication officer in military was adored by many.
"In line with directions from the Executive Office of the President through the Head of the Public Service, the office of the Government Spokesman shall be domiciled at the ICT Ministry," read Mucheru's statement over Oguna appointment.
Oguna's duties will be taking charge of among others, Directorate of Information and all county and sub county information officers, Department of Public Information, National Government Communication Centre and the Government Media centre.
By the time Kenya was invading Somalia in pursuit of Al-Shabaab militants in 2011, most communications affairs in the military was closely guarded internal affairs. But the then Chief of Defense Forces General Julius Karangi appointed Col Oguna to take charge of Public Communication affairs.
Throughout the tenure, Col Oguna would give media briefs on the successes and setbacks on the war. His briefs usually took place at Department of Defense, closely monitored by military generals.
But in 2012, Oguna's public appearance diminished just like his deputy, Major Emmanuel Chirchir. And this was as a result of KDF decision to join AU backed forces, AMISOM. While Kenya was offered a military spokesperson position, the decision was later reversed, after KDF opted to take over Legal Affairs post.
“It was like a trade off,” Col Oguna said. In an earlier arrangement that has since been revised, two Kenyan military officers were to be spokespersons.
Later in 2016, Col Oguna left his spokesman position and handed over to Col Willy Wesonga. Wesonga did not last long either since he was replaced by Col Joseph Owuoth. Col Oguna exited the stage after he was deployed to Tanzania as the Defence attaché.
After Owuoth's controversial exit from military in 2017, Col David Obonyo was chosen to take over. He handed over to Col Paul Njuguna, who works closely with Department of Defense spokesman Brigadier Bogita Ongeri.
And Oguna, who has since retired from military after a short stint in Tanzania, will now be tasked to oversee government communications. The department has struggled since the exit of Governor Mutua.