Dennis Itumbi has accused the Daily Nation of misreporting details surrounding whistleblower Andrew Rotich’s job status at the Social Health Authority (SHA).
The controversy emerged after the publication claimed that Rotich, who exposed a multimillion-shilling medical billing scam, had lost his job following his revelations. According to the report, Rotich had been appointed Deputy Director of Forensic Audit and Risk Assurance in April but failed to make the shortlist for fresh interviews for the same role.
Itumbi, however, dismissed the claims, terming the report misleading and inaccurate. In a strongly worded statement released on Friday, he insisted that Rotich had never applied for the Deputy Director role as alleged.
“Andrew Rotich never applied for Deputy Director like the lying newsroom at Nation alleges. He applied for Assistant Director; he is actually already shortlisted, waiting for interviews,” Itumbi stated.
The digital strategist went on to accuse the paper of deliberately twisting facts to fuel a narrative that Rotich was being punished for whistleblowing. He stressed that Rotich’s job prospects remained secure and that the ongoing SHA recruitment process was unrelated to the whistleblowing saga.
The Daily Nation report had suggested that Rotich’s revelations—which led to the closure of 1,300 rogue hospitals implicated in fraudulent billing—may have influenced his removal, sparking a heated public debate on accountability and protection for whistleblowers.
Itumbi, a vocal defender of the Kenya Kwanza administration, maintained that the media outlet was running a campaign of misinformation. He criticized the newspaper’s editorial standards, stating that truth “happens once in a while, but lies dominate.”
This is not the first time Itumbi has clashed with the Nation. On September 8, he faulted the publication over an article alleging failed meetings between top police officials and President William Ruto to resolve internal wrangles over recruitment. He countered the claim by asserting that the President had not been in Mombasa on the dates reported, accusing the paper of knowingly fabricating details.
Itumbi, who often references his journalism background, urged media houses to verify facts before publishing stories, particularly those with potential to mislead the public.
