Deputy President William Ruto’s allies have blasted President Uhuru Kenyatta after he publicly avoided shaking hands with his estranged deputy during the viewing of the former president Mwai Kibaki’s body.
President Uhuru was leading the nation in paying last respects to the former president whose body is lying in state at parliament buildings.
On Monday, April 25, after he arrived at the parliament buildings for the ceremony, the head of state was received by his deputy and he avoided shaking hands with him and all the other leaders who had gathered to receive him.
The president only bowed with his hands clasped as a sign of acknowledgment of those who had lined up to receive.
It was initially thought that the Head of State was observing Covid-19 protocols only for the president to be seen later exchanging greetings with former vice president Kalonzo Musyoka.
The State House later shared photos of the president shaking hands with the family of the late president Mwai Kibaki who earlier exchanged greetings with the DP Ruto.
The double standard by the president angered DP Ruto’s allies who took to Twitter to express their unhappiness with President Uhuru’s actions.
Elgeyo Marakwet Senator took to Twitter to mock the president saying maybe the Head of State could have forgotten the gloves.
“At that moment the President realized that he forgot his gloves,” Murkomen wrote on Twitter
Outspoken Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria posted a photo of President Uhuru and his deputy with the caption: ” Geithagia angu” which loosely translates to greet people.
On his part lawyer, Miguna Miguna said, “The despot often shakes hands of his fellow Kuzimia thugs without gloves. I guess for him, everyone else is dirty.”
“President Uhuru Kenyatta has observed COVID-19 protocols from his DP Ruto, Justin Muturi, and Kenneth Lusaka by not shaking their hands at Parliament buildings until he reached a Fully vaccinated Hon Kalonzo Musyoka just to shake his hand, Late Mwai Kibaki must be happy,” stated Frank Mtetezi a random Twitter user wrote.
This was the first time the two were meeting since President Uhuru began campaigning for the ODM leader ahead of the August polls.
