[President Uhuru Kenyatta with a section of Gusii leaders addressing a rally. Sources claim that DP Ruto was compelled to drop out of the trip. Photo/Nation]
Barely a week after President Uhuru Kenyatta toured Gusii area; details on how handlers of the president persuaded DP William Ruto to withdraw from the tour have emerged.
In a circular released by State House, Ruto was to accompany Kenyatta to the vote rich region for join rallies.
But the countries second in command had to withdraw from the itinerary in favour of Kakamega where he was again to do joint rallies with the president.
“Intelligence briefs showed that Gusii community has some reservations over him and his mode of leadership,” said a source privy to Kenyatta’s campaigns.
The source added: “Reports indicated that a section of Gusii people associate his with PEV of 2007/08 and this would have complicated Uhuru’s tour. He was asked to withdraw on those grounds.”
Kenyatta compensated over 15, 000 IDPs who have been languishing in abject poverty for the last decade after losing their properties during the post-election violence that claimed lives of over 1300 people.
Rift Valley was one of the hotbeds of violence and the DP happens to command a huge following from the region, a reason why a section of Kisii community holds him responsible for their woes.