A top aide in Deputy President William Ruto's office has taken a swipe at Nation Media Group, accusing the company of fueling rift between President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy.
In a tweet on Monday, Emmanuel Talam said that the company was publishing articles without objectivity to suit its interests.
"Ruto fails to stop bid to raise debt ceiling and safe Kenyans the burden of debt; could that also make sense? May be it is not politically strategic and appropriate for the Nation. Anyway Mungu Mbele," he said.
His sentiments came moments after Dr Ruto also criticised the company, insisting that the information that had been published was false.
According to the paper, President Uhuru Kenyatta snubbed Ruto and instead sought help from Raila Odinga to have debt ceiling increased to Sh9 trillion.
“It’s true the President reached out to Mr Odinga who assured him of his support, because it was politically strategic for him not to go the PG way,” said a senior opposition MP, who did not want to be named because he was involved in the matter.
However, Mr Ruto’s spokesman David Mugonyi disputed the claims, saying he was unaware of the plans for a planned PG and reminding the Nation it could not claim to know it either as the discussions, if any, were between the President and his deputy.
“You cannot claim to be aware of a conversation between the President and his deputy,” Mr Mugonyi said.
While Ruto wanted Uhuru to hold a Jubilee PG, the President is said to have been uncomfortable with it. Majority Leader Aden Duale confirmed that the details about the PG last week had been communicated.
“I was for the PG but I opted to give bipartisanship a chance,” Mr Duale said, adding: “I am happy that when I approached both Mr John Mbadi and Junet Mohamed, they embraced the idea. The moment I got their assurances, the push for a PG was rendered needless and I abandoned the idea. They also abandoned the push for their own PG.”