Kiharu Member of Parliament Ndindi Nyoro has rubbished claims that President Uhuru Kenyatta snubbed Deputy President William Ruto at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Saturday.
Nyoro said he spent the better part of the day in question with the DP, and noted Ruto did not go to JKIA since by the time Uhuru arrived he was in Kajiado County meeting a friend.
In a Facebook post on Monday, the outspoken legislator accused the Standard newspaper of misleading its readers by publishing a fake story, which was allegedly motivated by the paper's 'hate' on the country's second-in-command.
"I was with the Deputy President this particular day. We had functions in Nyandarua and only came back together around 4.30 pm. We immediately left for Kajiado to visit the former Kajiado County Council Chair, Ole Muyaa till 6.30pm. H.E the President jetted back around 5.30pm. Even if we must hate, not to the extent of misleading readers. Pengine JKIA iko Kajiado. Ama ni Kajiado iko JKIA?(Maybe JKIA is in Kajiado. Or is Kajiado in JKIA?)" Nyoro posed.
In its widely-circulated Monday publication, the Standard reported that the DP was caught unawares when Uhuru discarded protocol and used the ordinary passenger terminals instead of the presidential pavilion where Ruto was waiting to receive him.
The president, according to the paper, landed at JKIA at 4pm, spent around 30 minutes at the facility, and left immediately without meeting his deputy who had arrived earlier to welcome him.
The publication claimed that Uhuru may have snubbed Ruto since he was accompanied by Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu who a warrant of arrest had been issued against him.
The President, the local daily further reported, was also not keen to meet his deputy after politicians allied to 'Tanga Tanga' group allegedly poured cold water on his renewed war on corruption during a rally in Uasin Gishu on Friday.
On his part, Ruto has also dismissed the report that he was snubbed by his boss when jetting back from Zambia at the JKIA.
"Fake news alert! I was nowhere near JKIA. I am not surprised that some media houses and their owners are this desperate. Tuwasamehe tu! (Let's just forgive them) the DP tweeted on Sunday.