Kenya’s Deputy President William Ruto in mid-September asked religious leaders to initiate a handshake with President Uhuru Kenyatta, it has emerged.
In his letter dispatched on September 16, just a day after the conference of the Catholic bishops offered to reconcile him with his boss, Ruto pleaded with clergy to mend the broken fences with his boss noting that he holds “nothing” against the president.
“I supported him unconditionally and respect his mandate as head of state and government,
“I have had the privilege and honour of serving as the deputy president for nine years during which much has been attempted and much achieved,” read part of the letter the DP wrote to Catholic Bishops confirming his availability for a clergy-brokered truce with President Uhuru Kenyatta.
On Wednesday, September 15, the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops offered to intervene and end the war of words between Uhuru and Ruto for the sake of the country’s stability ahead of the 2022 elections.
The clerics said the public spat that is being witnessed between the first in command and his deputy is dangerous for the prevailing peace and tranquility in the country and that it cannot be taken lightly.
“We are deeply concerned that if this open disagreement between the President and the DP is taken up by their supporters, the trickle-down effect it could generate across the country will be dire to even contemplate,”
Immediately after their commitment to reconcile the two leaders, the deputy president said he was ready to reconcile with his boss unconditionally.
Since then, the relationship between the first in command and his deputy appears to have deteriorated further with reports alleging that the former Agriculture Minister has been the stumbling block to broker a truce.
But over the weekend, William Ruto denied that he has been a stumbling block to the attempts by the church to reconcile him with his boss, President Uhuru Kenyatta.
