Kenya’s deputy president, William Ruto has yet again been left out of an important function by State House in another show of his relationship with his boss has deteoriated.
He was a no-show at the location when Tanzania President Samia Suluhu was received by President Uhuru Kenyatta, Cabinet secretaries and other government dignitaries to begin her 2-day visit of Kenya.
Ruto was missing on the list of invited guests who were set to attend a state dinner on May 4, in honour of Tanzania’s late president, John Pombe Magufuli.
As Uhuru received Samia at State House, Ruto was engaged at his official residence in Karen.
His Communications Director, Emanuel Talam confirmed to the press that Ruto would just go about his normal business since he had not been invited to the event.
In his meeting with the clerics, Ruto handed over a vehicle to AIC’s Daniel Lotuno as a tool for evangelisation.
“Handed over a vehicle to Rev. Daniel Lotuno of AIC, Kajiado County. Blessed to have joined the church in acquiring a tool for evangelization,” he said on twitter.
The relationship between the duo has been a murky one, with Ruto confirming that they rarely meet with the president.
Speaking during a televised interview in April, the DP said that Uhuru had chosen to work with other people, delegating his duties to outsiders such as ODM leader Raila Odinga and Interior CS Fred Matiang’i.
“Admittedly we have challenges. It is in the public domain that the way I worked with my boss from 2013 to 2017 is different from the way we have worked from 2018 to now,” he told Linus Kaikai during an interview on Citizen TV.
As a result, Ruto has been locked out of major state functions and attending Cabinet meetings.
On the other hand, Raila Odinga and Matiangi have been seen carying out functions meant for the DP. The two accompany Uhuru to launch government projects, showing more power than Ruto.