Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday, April 29, appeared to have snubbed his Deputy William Ruto’s handshake for the second time in a week.
Ruto who was receiving his boss at Nyayo stadium during late president Mwai Kibaki’s requiem mass had extended his right hand hoping for a handshake.
The first in command who has bitterly fallen out with his deputy instead held his hands together as if in prayer and bowed in front of William Ruto suggesting that he did not want a handshake with him.
President Uhuru’s mode of greetings is increasingly popular in Kenyan circles ever since the advent of Covid-19.
Moments later, the head of state was seen having handshakes with other dignitaries in what seemed apparent that it was not really about COVID-19 health protocols.
The contrast in greetings comes at a time the President and his Deputy have differed on almost everything on the political front.
The two politicians have also exchanged not-so-pleasant words in public since the famous March 2018 handshake between President Uhuru and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
While reacting to Uhuru’s refusal to great his estranged deputy for a second time in less than a week, exiled lawyer Miguna Miguna urged William Ruto not to get tired of seeking a handshake with his boss.
In a statement on Friday, April 29, the controversial lawyer said that the more the president continues to snub his deputy, the more he (William Ruto) gains political milage ahead of the August 9, General Election.
“To William Ruto: Continue exposing despot Uhuru Kenyatta’s primitivity. Extend your hands. Smile broadly. The more Uhuru Kenyatta refuses to greet you or shake your extended hands, the more you continue to get sympathy votes and defeat the project,” Miguna Miguna said in a Tweet.