In 2018, President Uhuru Kenyatta and his then political opponent Raila Odinga ended their feud through the handshake an event boycotted by Deputy President William Ruto.
The handshake marked the beginning of the difference between President Uhuru and his principal assistant.
The feud led to Ruto being sidelined in key government decisions until some people called on him to quit the government if he was uncomfortable with the way the government was running.
But President Uhuru Kenyatta’s close ally, David Murathe has suggested that the Head of State contemplated firing his estranged deputy.
Speaking on Spice FM on Friday, June 24, Murathe said Ruto was in office courtesy of the provision of the constitution that provides security of tenure to his office.
“Remember in our current dispensation, it’s only the deputy president who is anchored in the constitution who can’t be fired.
“So, you can make Kalonzo today the chief minister and fire him tomorrow. It’s only the deputy president, otherwise, the president would have fired Ruto a long time ago,” Murathe said.
Since the handshake, President Uhuru and his deputy have been reading from different scripts on matters of national importance such as the BBI constitutional amendment initiative.
At one point, the Head of State blasted his deputy for abandoning him in his time of need in running the government to concentrate on succession politics.
“The honorable thing is that if you are not happy with it, step aside and allow those who want to move on to do so and take your agenda to the people,
“I would hope people would have the courage to do that instead of throwing stones in the same house you live in.” President Uhuru said in an interview with Citizen TV last year.
While dismissing those calling for his resignation, the United Democratic Alliance presidential flag bearer said the handshake was designed to throw him out of office.
“I have no outstanding requirement assignment, those telling me that I have absconded duty should be honest to the people of Kenya,” Ruto said last year.
“I am a man on a mission. I have no space to retreat, and I do not have the luxury to surrender,” He added.
