Deputy President William Ruto chats with President Uhuru Kenyatta shortly before departing to Ethiopia, January 26, 2018. [Photo|PSCU]
Deputy President William Ruto did not flank his boss, President Uhuru Kenyatta during unveiling of his new Cabinet on Friday.
Kenyatta released 22 names of Cabinet Secretary nominees to his second and last Cabinet in a televised event from State House, Nairobi.
Ruto was missing from the cameras just as it happened weeks ago when Uhuru was unveiling few members of his new Cabinet who would help him leave a legacy after a 10-year presidential term.
Ruto who flanked Kenyatta during unveiling of first cabinet in 2013, had never missed accompanying his boss during any government public announcements, contrary to what was witnessed on Friday. It was not clear where Ruto was.
Moments after Uhuru completed his announcement, the two were spotted at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Photos shared by the Presidential Communications Unit showed Ruto having a laughter moment with Kenyatta, shortly before Uhuru departed to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to attend the 30th African Union Summit, alongside First Lady, Margaret.
Several other government officials were present too, to see off the president. The 2018 theme of the Summit is “Winning the fight against corruption: A sustainable path to Africa’s transformation” and top on the agenda of the summit is the adoption and implementation of the institutional reform of the African Union.
Analysts say Uhuru's new Cabinet could possibly not be reflecting what Ruto preferred, hence not showing up for the unveiling