Last Thursday's reported drama Jomo Kenyatta International Airport between Deputy President William Ruto and President Uhuru Kenyatta's team marked the third chaotic reception in as many months.
Although Dr Ruto has since dismissed the latest bizarre event as 'fake news', a State House source claimed that Uhuru's ordered photographers to delete photos taken when Uhuru landed from Japan.
“They were given a stern warning that should any pictures leak, they will be held personally liable,” a source said.
This time, Uhuru is said to have been uncomfortable having taken photos with Governor Stephen Sang, who is facing criminal charges over alleged incitement.
But Dr Ruto's first predicament was in May this year when he reportedly confronted Interior PS Karanja Kibicho. He's said to have accused him of commanding provincial administration team never to appear at his meetings.
“Everyone present including the service commanders were taken by surprise. Nobody uttered a word as the lecture by the visibly angry Ruto continued,” a source had said.
But the DP would later deny confrontations with Dr Kibicho, arguing that the story was fake. However, Ruto's team had been quoted in public complaining about Kibicho.
“That JKIA story is fake. It is a creation of rumour-peddlers of fake news keen to sustain a hopeless narrative,” said Emmanuel Tallam as quoted by the Standard.
But perhaps the most embarrassing scenario was in July this year, when Uhuru was jetting back for Zambia. He had visited the country for one day.
Upon arrival, even though Ruto denies, Uhuru disembarked at the ordinary terminal, leaving Dr Ruto stranded at the VVIP terminal at JKIA.
“The DP was a bit late to the airport hence the confusion. There was nothing sinister,” said a senior official who asked not to be named.
Sources claimed that Uhuru took the step when he realised that Dr Ruto had been accompanied by Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu, who is facing graft charges.