Dennis Itumbi is not a new name especially on social media whose command across the social circles cannot be ignored. Many call him a hacker, others a propagandist while others see him as a social media guru. Well he is a jack of many trades; a journalist, blogger, consultant and a businessman.
The award winning journalist whose nose for news is an envy of many, gets news before the mainstream media has it. He prides in his blog where you see Facts First and Fast and its known to tell what the mainstream media will not tell you. Using his journalism intelligent sources, he gets
even the classified information, assumed to be a secret of a few and let it known to the whole world.
However, his life has not been without controversy and he has faced the court of law not once.
Here is his story as per an interview done by Dorcas Karuana that sought to demystify his life.
1. Who is Dennis Itumbi?
Dennis is villager who came to Nairobi to sell ideas. I was born in Gichugu, Kirinyaga County, and am the first born in a family of 5 boys. I am multi-linguist who can speak Maa, Luhya, Kikuyu and Embu languages. I am a Journalist, Social media consultant, Play write, PR/ Branding consultant and a businessman.
2. What drove you to choose a career in the media industry?
Dennis Itumbi, Blogger
As I grew up, I wanted to be a lawyer and after class 8, I would go to the court religiously at 8am like a Lawyer and would take notes of the court proceedings. In fact, the judge summoned me once over taking notes but I explained that I wanted to learn what lawyers do. However, after form 4, I missed the cut off to pursue Law. I would see journalists being very close with the lawyers in courts and this became my option.
3. At one time while in college you staged an act at Kencom Stage about the coming of Anti-Christ and for their troubles which saw you raise a quite sum thereby sorting your fare to South B from Town. Have you been an actor?
Life was very hard then. Dennis Onsarigo and I did it to raise fare to South B. We staged the act and managed to raise Kshs 2,600. It took us for the week.
4. As a journalist, you won the 2006/07 GJLOS journalist of the year award. What was your inspiration?
I was then a correspondent for Baraka FM and did a story on Mungiki. My inspiration was to unveil the life of a Mungiki member socially. I realized 60% were strong people; they had wives and who were very religious and lived a normal life like any other person.
5. Why did you quit full time journalism to be a blogger?
I felt I had achieved it all having worked in both print media and electronic media. The online platform was unexplored and I saw great opportunity in it. Blogging gives me social command where I let people tell their story unlike the media that owns peoples story. I realized the mainstream media aims at the mind which only digests it, while I aim at the heart which owns it.
6. You are known to be a hard-hitting blogger known for whistle blowing on corruption scandals in Kenya without fear or favour. Why did you choose politics as the content of your blog?
If the highest money invested in a country is on politics, them it is easier to run a political blog. Also, during my course of work as a journalist, I had a lot of political sources and this made it much easier for me.
7. You are well known for leaking scoops well ahead of mainstream media. How do you get to know information before the mainstream media in Kenya?
I have a Journalism Intelligence System that feeds me every Saturday on what is happening. My sources are usually the unconventional sources i.e. the small person in an office (tea girl, watchman, taxi driver) who never hides information rather than the big person who will block information.
8. How do you make money as a freelance journalist and a blogger?
As a freelance journalist I look for the small media stations with no presence in Kenya and work for them. I also write for three international magazines in Canada, Namibia and South Africa which pays very well and this can sustain me for a month with no struggle.
As a blogger I use creative marketing to make money. Other ways can be Google ad sense, or even being paid to post a story on your blog.
9. Would you advice young jobless graduates to start blogging? Why?
Yes I would. Blogging is should be a passion where you express yourself freely to many people on social networks. It is a way to showcase your talent or command in a given field you never know who could be reading your blog. Be real and talk of issues that affect people. For instance, I admire the blogger of ‘Nairobi Nights’ she was a prostitute who addressed it and wrote of how her night was every day. She is now an ambassador in the U.S and New York giving talks to the prostitutes.
10. You have faced several cases of hacking into websites; that of the Jetlink Express Company and the ICC website key witnesses for the Ocampo six. Was it true you did it?
It’s unfortunate some people now call me a hacker. I sued the ICC in the Hague and it was ruled that it had ordered the arrest. I am now planning to sue the Kenyan Government for illegally arresting me one year ago.
For Jet link, I never hacked their website. I got the story from an insider and for 3 good weeks before posting the story, I called the management and even boarded the flight to confirm some of the allegations. There is no evidence that I hacked their website.
11. Does the security still follow you?
Yes, am still followed and my phone is tapped. I once had a curious accident which sustained a leg injury. However, I choose to take it positively that may be am being protected.
12. If you were to go back to school, what field would you choose?
I would not change anything, but still be a journalist. I have no regrets for my career path since I love what I do.
13. What inspires you in life?
I am inspired by transforming people’s lives. I also have a desire to reach for the next goal without losing focus just like a river which has to flow no matter the course.
14. Who is your Role Model?
Locally, Lawyer Kamotho Waiganjo, started from a lawyer, owned a law firm and now a business man.
Internationally, am inspired by the ‘Obama Story’ and Jacob Zuma because of his simplicity.
15. What is your future plan in the next 5 years?
I plan to run an African Blog covering African Business, Politics and Entertainment, having already formed a merger of blogs in 21 countries and hope to be 30 before the end of the year. Also, in 5years time I should own a media station and start dating.
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