President Uhuru Kenyatta’s decision to disband the Presidential Strategic Communication Unit has been hailed as ‘bold and courageous’ by Moi University lecturer Pius Ogega.
State House understandably disbanded the unit only retaining the services of the spokesperson Manoah Esipisu, with no immediate plan for outspoken Dennis Itumbi, Munyori Buku, Eric Ng'eno and James Kinyua.
And Mr Ogega termed the announcement as bold, saying the team had been a ‘laughing’ stock to the presidency and had ‘severely’ injured the reputation of the presidential communication unit.
“The President took long to act because we have seen the team contradicting the Office of the President. They team has also been more of a cocoon in creating propaganda and insults to the president’s competitors rather than adhering to professional standards,” he said.
“The move is bold and courageous because honestly, people like Itumbi and Buku had become a laughing stock to the public a move that clearly injured the reputation of the presidency given their infantry communication tactics that attacked the personality of some individuals,” added the communication lecturer.
He urged the President to hire people with ‘unquestionable’ morals and journalistic ethics to head the communication's team through a competitive process.
“The communication's office should not be political at all and that is where the President messed. He should hire people based on professionalism rather than political inclination. We have people who can observe professionalism when executing such responsibilities without deviating from code of ethics,” he said during Wednesday’s interview.