“Your Time for Misdirection Is Up”: Wiper Communications Lead Paloma Gatabaki Fires at Dennis Itumbi in a Brutal Response

 By Gedion Nzyoki -

• A fierce political exchange has erupted between Wiper Front Patriotic Communications Director Paloma Gatabaki and State House digital strategist Dennis Itumbi.
• Gatabaki criticised the government’s handling of a recent tragedy, accusing senior leaders of showing poor judgment during a moment of national mourning.
• The clash followed Itumbi’s remarks targeting Kalonzo Musyoka over his interpretation of Finance Bill documents, escalating tensions between government and opposition communicators.

Nairobi, Kenya | May 28, 2026 — A heated political exchange has emerged between Wiper Front Patriotic Communications Director Paloma Gatabaki and State House digital strategist Dennis Itumbi following remarks surrounding recent national events and political leadership.

A photo collage featuring Wiper Communications Lead Paloma Gatabaki and State House Digital Strategist Dennis Itumbi. Photo: Paloma Gatabaki/Dennis Itumbi/Facebook.

The Wiper Communications Lead, Paloma Gatabaki, issued a strong and sharp response under the Wiper Front banner, directly responding to Itumbi’s earlier comments directed at Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka. 

In her statement, Gatabaki accused Itumbi of deflection and questioned the timing of government decisions during a recent national tragedy.

She specifically referenced the government’s handling of the National Prayer Breakfast held at the Safari Park Hotel Safari Park Hotel, questioning why it proceeded at 6:00 a.m. despite reports that the deaths of students from Utumishi Academy had already been known earlier that morning.

“What AI assistant advises a Head of State to continue a National Prayer Breakfast as scheduled at 6:00 a.m., fully aware since 3:30 a.m. that girls had just perished at Utumishi Academy in Gilgil?” the statement read in part.

Gatabaki further argued that the situation required human empathy rather than technological input, insisting that national mourning moments demanded prioritisation of citizens over official programmes.

“That decision did not require artificial intelligence; it required natural compassion,” the statement added.

She also criticised what she described as attempts to deflect responsibility, saying such actions reflected poorly on leadership judgment during moments of crisis.

“Deflecting while families were receiving the worst news of their lives is not a good look, Dennis. Some moments demand that a leader choose people over programme,” she stated, further claiming that President William Ruto had opted for “deafening silence over the cries of the people.”

Gatabaki concluded her statement with a pointed remark, saying Itumbi’s time for misdirection had come to an end.

“Your time for misdirection is up,” the statement concluded.

What Dennis Itumbi Said About Kalonzo Musyoka

The remarks came in response to earlier comments by Dennis Itumbi, who had a day earlier criticised Kalonzo Musyoka over alleged misinterpretation of official documents. In a post directed at the Wiper leader, Itumbi accused him of misrepresenting available records and suggested that he could benefit from an artificial intelligence tool to better summarise Finance Bill documents.

“My good friend Kalonzo Musyoka, I say this with respect and genuine sense of duty of care: we cannot allow you to continue publicly embarrassing yourself by misrepresenting documents that are available for all to read,” Itumbi stated.

He further suggested that Kalonzo Musyoka could be provided with an artificial intelligence tool to help him better interpret and summarise Finance Bill documents ahead of future press briefings.

“We shall gladly hand you an AI assistant specifically designed to summarise Finance Bills before your next press conference.” he added.

The statement did not sit well with the Wiper communications lead, who responded through the same platform Itumbi had used before reportedly deleting his post.

The exchange highlights rising political tensions between government-aligned communicators and opposition-linked spokespersons, as debates over governance, accountability, and national tragedy continue to dominate public discourse.