The Chief of Staff and Head of the Public Service Felix K. Koskei has denied allegations linking him to a company reportedly involved in espionage software.
The claims were made in a recent article by The Daily Nation, which Koskei has described as “defamatory and baseless.”
In a press statement released on Monday, Koskei refuted any association with Ms. Mary Wachuka Maina, alleged owner of Jipe Inc., or the purported software the company is claimed to produce.
“Ms. Mary Wachuka Maina and/or Jipe Inc. are strangers to me,” he stated.
He further pointed out that The Daily Nation’s own report acknowledged that a purported meeting between him and Ms. Wachuka never took place.
Koskei also clarified that, as Head of the Public Service, he has no knowledge of any government procurement of such software.
“Furthermore, there is no Government need, nor will there ever be a need, for such software,” he asserted.
Expressing strong disapproval, Koskei criticized the publication for failing to seek his response before publishing the allegations.
“No effort was made to contact me for my response before publishing this defamatory and baseless claim. This omission is not only irresponsible but also appears to be a deliberate attempt to tarnish my reputation,” he said.
He demanded an immediate retraction of the story and a public apology from The Daily Nation.
Koskei warned that failure to comply would leave him with no choice but to take legal action.
“I, therefore, demand an immediate retraction of this story and a public apology… Failure to comply will leave me with no option but to pursue legal redress to protect the name, stature, and image of this office,” he emphasized.
