Chief of Staff and Head of the Public Service Felix Koskei has dismissed reports linking him to the alleged purchase of spying and propaganda software ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
In an article published in the Daily Nation newspaper, Koskei was implicated in the scheme together with Treasury PS Chris Kiptoo, the Attorney General, Eric Ng’eno who writes President William Ruto’s speech and entrepreneur Jayesh Saini.
The report claimed Mary Wachuka Maina, who was to develop the said software at KSh 120 million through her Jipe Inc, moved to court after a disagreement.
The software was reportedly designed to manage President Ruto and his deputy Kithure Kindiki’s social media accounts, monitor opposition figures, and influence public sentiment through psychometric profiling.
However, in a statement seen by TUKIO.co.ke, Koskei denied knowing any plan by the government to purchase such software, adding the Kenya Kwanza government does not need it in the first place.
He denied knowing Maina and regretted the move by the Nation Newspaper to link him to such falsehood.
"To my knowledge, as Chief of Staff and Head of the Public Service, I am not aware of any procurement of such software by the Government. Furthermore, there is no government need, nor will there ever be a need, for such software. Mary Wachuka Maina and/or Jipe Inc. are strangers to me," said Koskei.Consequently, he asked Nation Media Group to retract the article and issue an apology lest he take legal action against them.
"I demand an immediate retraction of this story and a public apology from The Daily Nation. Failure to comply with this demand will leave me with no option but to pursue legal redress to protect the name, stature and image of this office," said Koskei.
