President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy, William Ruto (right), during a past function at State House in Nairobi. [PHOTO/nation.co.ke]
The absence of Deputy President William Ruto at State House when President Uhuru Kenyatta was unveiling the first batch of Cabinet Secretaries was not a coincidence but a result of fierce behind-the-scenes battles between the president and his deputy.
According to fresh details, Ruto has objected to some of the names Uhuru wants to bring on board in his final list of the full Cabinet and his staying away was a way of protest.
A source in touch with the Nation said the DP was also not satisfied by the president leaving out some of the names in his previous cabinet and that they deserved being appointed.
It is said Ruto has therefore delayed submitting his proposed names while some of those he wants listed have been rejected by Uhuru's camp.
Ruto is said to have last been at State House on December 23 when he and Uhuru held a meeting that ran late into the night.
Jubilee luminaries have however downplayed Ruto's absence and said the public is reading too much into it.
“We have one government which is led by the President. All of us, including me and the DP, are behind our leader and we endorse every decision he takes. Those who are speculating on the absence of the DP want to create a controversy where there is none. They are still stuck in the old ways of the coalition government. Our government is one and united,” said Majority Leader in the National Assembly and Mr Ruto’s right-hand man Aden Duale said.