Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto have never met for over two months now, Kivumbi.co.ke has established.
The two last met face-to-face at a Cabinet session in State House, Nairobi, on February 25, a move that is pointing to their deteriorating relationship.
On February 19, Ruto was left out of yet another meeting attended by Cabinet Secretaries, chief administrative secretaries and principal secretaries in what State House said was to “discuss government priorities for the current calendar year.”
Furthermore, the second in command did not attend a state function on Saturday, May 1, at the statehouse where President Uhuru Kenyatta led Kenyans to celebrate Labor Day.
Ruto was again locked out of an important function by State House on Tuesday, May 4, for the reception of newly sworn-in Tanzania President Suluhu Samia where Matiang’i and other Cabinet Secretaries flanked President Kenyatta.
“I can confirm there was no invite received. But you can check with State House,” Ruto’s director of communications Emmanuel Talam told the press.
According to Talam, while President Uhuru Kenyatta hosted his Tanzania counterpart Samia Suluhu during her two-day state visit in Kenya, Ruto just went about his normal business since he had not been invited to the event.
In his meeting with the clerics, the DP 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.
In March 2021, Ruto in a televised interview told the country that the president has invited intruders into his government who are humiliating him.
He said should he become the fifth president of the Republic of Kenya, he will not allow his Deputy to be humiliated the way he has been humiliated in Jubilee especially since March 2018.
“Given an opportunity, I will not allow my deputy to be humiliated the way former DPs have been humiliated and the way I have been humiliated. I will not allow,” Ruto said in an interview with Citizen Tv.
Uhuru and Ruto enjoyed a admirable friendship in their first term i office, even dressing in marching suits and ties while addressing Kenyans.
The 2022 Uhuru succession politics has however split the then dynamic duo as Uhuru appears to prefer anyone else but Ruto to succeed him.