The friendship between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto dates back to the Nyayo era.
Retired President Daniel Arap Moi made Ruto an assistant minister in 1997 after he was elected into parliament, a move that caused a stir in KANU.
Before his retirement, Moi once made a stopover on Nakuru's KANU branch office on his way to his Kabarak Home and asked the people to attend a rally where Uhuru and Ruto were organised to speak in Molo Town.
During the rally, Uhuru and Ruto both declared that the old leaders must retire with Moi to pave way for youthful leadership.
"If President Moi retires, these other old politicians must also go home. They should not hang around telling us that this is their time to take over the presidency. No! Let them also go!" Uhuru declared.
"All these other old guys must emulate the President and leave the stage to us," Ruto said.
The remarks of the two didn’t augur well with the KANU top leadership. The top brass accused the two of being two overambitious.
It was after this incident that Mungiki adherents decided to burn the effigy of President Uhuru at Mzee Jomo Kenyatta mausoleum while accusing him for increasing their woes following a crackdown on the group after Uhuru made the declarations.