BY OPCS PRESS SERVICE
The Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary’s Press Service has launched a news magazine and unveiled a new website titled “THE PHANTOM.”
The Phantom is a platform that will unveil and project Musalia Mudavadi’s vision for Kenya, tracing his steps since he first joined government at the age of 29.
In a time when true leadership stories are often drowned out by political rhetoric, The Phantom will rise above the clutter to deliver clear, authentic, and inspiring narratives that will both shape opinion and give direction.
“I commend the dedicated team behind ‘The PHANTOM’ for their excellent work in bringing together the Phantom Quarterly Magazine and the Phantom Website. Anchored on the values of ‘The gentleman of Kenyan politics, a liberal democrat, and a safe pair of hands,’ The Phantom is envisioned as more than a publication or a digital platform,” said Mudavadi.
“It represents a space for ideas, dialogue, and exchange; an interactive hub that seeks to amplify Kenya’s voice in economic diplomacy, safeguard our national interests on the global stage, and foster partnerships that drive trade, investment, and sustainable development,” he added.
Mudavadi, who graced the launch last evening, said The Phantom will reflect on his early days when he experienced some extremely agile moments, when he was “swift and swavvy”—encompassing his experience in the sporting field when he played soccer, hockey, and rugby, and participated too in sprinting and swimming.
Mudavadi said this will be a space where he will speak directly to the people, sharing not just his achievements, but the dreams and ideals that drive him to serve.
In every edition of The Phantom, a window into his journey will be revealed, anchoring the man behind the title.
“When my press team approached me and we had a conversation on how to improve communication from the government circles, I gave them my blessings since at times government is good at its business of governing, but it may not be very good at its business of communication,” noted Mudavadi.
“I was equally pleasantly surprised that the team quietly worked on this project and I am impressed that they have blended in on technology so that we can communicate faster, quicker and with less pressure,” he applauded.
With a strong focus on transformation, The Phantom dives deep into the initiatives that are changing lives across the country. From economic reforms that promise sustainable growth, to grassroots projects that uplift communities, to policies designed for the youth and future generations – each story connects Kenyans to the progress they can see and feel.
It’s a platform that speaks to the heart, reminding every reader that real leadership is about putting people first, and that together, a better Kenya is possible.
“Mudavadi’s political career, now spanning over three decades, mirrors the very qualities that once defined his prowess on the rugby field as the ‘phantom’. He continues to navigate the complex terrain of Kenyan politics with calm and calculated presence. In the often-chaotic world of public leadership, Mudavadi has carved out a reputation as a tactful and trusted team player, never loud and never brash, but always there,” said Jacob Ngetich, the Director for Press Service.
“We have taken a little bit of time to go into the history but it will be forward-looking on what really informs certain decisions,” said Mudavadi.
A seasoned land economist, a liberal democrat of the free-market bent, a peacemaker par excellence, a firm human rights defender, and an experienced statesman, The Phantom will delve into Mudavadi’s transitions as a Minister in the Moi, Kibaki, and now Ruto administrations, and in between as a Vice President, a Deputy Prime Minister, and a Presidential candidate.
The Phantom will tell the continuous story of a man not only instrumental in liberalising the Kenyan economy as Minister for Finance in the 1990s, but also a co-architect of the epoch-making devolution under the Constitution 2010.
A man who was in the inner circles of the 2007/2008 mediation process that brought back peace in Kenya, and a man behind the Earthquake that gave birth to the Kenya Kwanza government.
“What we have before us is an opportunity for us to convey government policies, decisions and actions more effectively, in a timely manner and in a manner that can widely spread across board. I am happy the platform on the website is interactive, user friendly and easy to get information,” said Mudavadi.
“Government does quite a bit, in fact it does a lot. But sometimes it is how you package the information, and continuously we will need help on how to package that information from the experts in communication. We will largely call on the media also to help us in packaging this information for the public. And we in government are not adversaries with the members of the media. We can work and develop this country together,” noted the Prime CS.
Mudavadi noted that through The Phantom he will be seeking collaboration with the media to help society understand issues better and feedback will be highly regarded.
“You will be seeing a lot of communication on a number of topical issues that are critical, like for now we have the tracking of various pieces of legislation – over 700 under the Kenya Kwanza regime. We want to track bills in Parliament and be able to convey the communication to the public. We want to bring coordination together. We want to revive the National Economic and Social Council so that we can have better engagement with investors, the public and make Kenya better,” he explained.
“In terms of foreign policy, we are demystifying foreign policy, tunataka foreign policy iende mashinani so that people understand more, the kind of decisions that we make, and why they are important,” added Mudavadi.
Mudavadi said there is need for the country to pull efforts together and every citizen should be involved in making Kenya a better place for tomorrow.
Present at the launch were Principal Secretaries Korir Sing’oei (State Department for Foreign Affairs), Aurelia Rono (State Department for Parliamentary Affairs), and Ahmed Ibrahim (State Department for National Government Coordination); the Chief of Staff in the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary, Joseph Busiega; Principal Administrative Secretary Juliana Yiapan, the Chancellor of Co-operatives University, Benard Chitunga, and Dagoretti South MP, John Kiarie.
