Deputy President William Ruto has dismissed claims carried in a mainstream publication that President Uhuru Kenyatta avoided him at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
In a tweet on Sunday, DP Ruto branded the claims fake news, saying he was nowhere near JKIA as claimed by the Standard newspaper.
The deputy president went on to say that the claims smacked of desperation by the media house.
He said he would forgive the publication for publishing the devastating claims.
"FAKE NEWS ALERT!!! I was nowhere near JKIA. I am NOT surprised that some media houses & their owners are this desperate. Tuwasamehe tu!!" The DP's tweet read.
The DP was reacting to today's Standard newspaper headline that says "Why Uhuru avoided Ruto at the airport".
The headline fueled speculation of rifts within the governing Jubilee party, divisions that the country's second in command has sought to downplay.
There have been claims that the president is unhappy with his deputy's 'premature' politicking.
It remains to be seen whether the DP's strong rebuttal will placate Jubilee supporters concerned that there are divisions between him and the Head of State.
Media reports indicated that DP Ruto had requested the president to convene a party meeting to discuss issues affecting the ruling party, a request that has not been granted yet.