Itumbi Accuses Nation of Publishing False Story on Ruto’s Meeting with Police Bosses.

Top State House official Dennis Itumbi has accused the Daily Nation of fabricating facts and misreporting on President William Ruto’s alleged meetings with police chiefs over the 10,000 police recruitment stalemate.

Reacting on social media on Monday, September 8, the Head of Presidential Projects and Creative Economy dismissed the paper’s front-page story titled Inside State House Police Hiring Drama. The article claimed that the President had convened two meetings with Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and his deputy, Eliud Lagat, to address internal wrangles delaying the recruitment process.

According to the report, the first meeting took place at State House and stretched past midnight without resolving the disagreements, while a second was held at the Kenya School of Government as the President allegedly attended the Agricultural Society of Kenya Show in Mombasa.

Itumbi, however, rubbished the claims, saying the President was not in Mombasa on Friday as reported. He accused the publication of knowingly spreading falsehoods and urged the media to uphold journalistic integrity.

“Dear Daily Nation, stop with the lies, fabrications and fake news. The President was not in Mombasa on Friday,” Itumbi stated. “Some facts are so easy to verify! How does a newsroom so confidently lie? Facts, we were taught in journalism school, are sacred. But we are used to these lies.”

Records show that President Ruto opened the agricultural show in Mombasa on Thursday, September 4. The following day, September 5, he visited the National Police Service booth at the event, where IG Kanja and DCI boss Mohamed Amin received him. Later that day, he held a separate meeting with a High-Level Panel of experts reviewing the African Union’s Governance, Peace and Security frameworks at State House in Nairobi.

The Nation report came just days after the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) announced its commitment to resolving long-standing internal disputes between uniformed and non-uniformed members, which have delayed the recruitment exercise.

NPSC Chairperson Amani Komora confirmed on Saturday that the new National Police Service Commission Recruitment and Appointment Regulations Act, 2025, would guide the process. Among the new rules is a requirement for prospective police officers to apply online before participating in physical recruitment exercises.