Deputy President William Ruto on Tuesday reprimanded Kieni MP Kanini Kega for claiming that President Uhuru Kenyatta sent him to represent him at the burial of Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua’s mother.
Ruto reminded Kega that he is the second in command and Kenyatta cannot send someone to a function he has attended.
He stated clearly that he is not ready to tolerate fence-sitters at the expense of development. Ruto reminded Kega and other leaders to respect his position in government.
Kega said that he had met President Kenyatta at State House in Mombasa and he told him to represent him at the function. Kega said he was given Sh500,000 and he added Sh100,000 from his pocket to donate to the family of the deceased.
“I happened to meet with the president at the Coast and he said since he would not be able to attend the funeral, I should convey his condolences. He also sent me to bring Sh500,000 as his financial contribution and I have topped that up with Sh100,000,” Mr Kega said.
In a quick rejoinder, Ruto told Kega that he is Kenyatta's most trusted messenger.
“You all know that there is only one person in Kenya who was sworn in to deputise the president. And I will do that very diligently. Everybody should do their job”, he said.
Kenyatta and Ruto seem not to be speaking the same language since the handshake. The allies of the DP have been mounting pressure on the President to endorse him for the top seat before 2022.
The Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) has also opened another battlefront between Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga as political alignment take shape.