Roberta Aguirre
In 2019, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta avoided his deputy, William Ruto, at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) upon arriving from a trip to Zambia. This incident fueled speculation of rifts within the governing Jubilee Party, with observers noting that Kenyatta's decision to bypass the presidential pavilion and exit through the ordinary passenger terminals helped him avoid an uncomfortable meeting with Ruto. The event added impetus to the recent talk of a souring of relations between the two leaders, who had previously been considered allies.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Incident | 27 July 2019 |
| Location | Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) |
| People Involved | President Uhuru Kenyatta, Deputy President William Ruto, Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu, Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi, Ms Waruguru, Interior CS Fred Matiang’i |
| Circumstances | President Uhuru Kenyatta bypassed the presidential pavilion where his deputy, William Ruto, was waiting to receive him and instead exited through the ordinary passenger terminals. Ruto immediately left for the city centre upon learning that the president had already disembarked. |
| Reasons Speculated | Avoid an uncomfortable meeting with his deputy due to displeasure with recent events, including pronouncements by Ruto's allies and the presence of Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu, who was under investigation for corruption. |
| Official Explanation | A 'small deviation from the usual protocol' due to the deputy president's late arrival at the airport. |
| Response from Ruto | Ruto denied the claims, stating that he was not at the airport and accused the media of spreading fake news. |
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What You'll Learn
- Uhuru Kenyatta bypassed the presidential pavilion, where William Ruto was waiting
- Ruto dismissed claims that Kenyatta avoided him as fake news
- Ruto's allies' pronouncements in Uasin Gishu upset Kenyatta
- Ruto accused Kenyatta of sacrificing people in the name of fighting corruption
- Observers noted that Kenyatta avoided an uncomfortable meeting with Ruto
Uhuru Kenyatta bypassed the presidential pavilion, where William Ruto was waiting
In 2019, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta bypassed the presidential pavilion at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), where his deputy, William Ruto, was waiting to receive him. Kenyatta had just returned from a trip to Zambia, where he spoke at the inaugural National Economic Summit (NES) in Livingstone. At the summit, Kenyatta emphasised the importance of economic diplomacy in tackling poverty and joblessness in Africa.
Ruto, who was accompanied by Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu, immediately left for the city centre after being informed that the president had already disembarked from the plane and was inside the airport. Officials dismissed the event as a 'small deviation from the usual protocol', with one source claiming that "the DP was a bit late to the airport hence the confusion".
The incident fuelled speculation about a rift within the governing Jubilee Party and added impetus to rumours of souring relations between the two politicians. Observers noted that Kenyatta's decision to leave the airport after 30 minutes helped him avoid an uncomfortable meeting with his deputy, indicating displeasure with recent events.
Ruto, however, dismissed claims that Kenyatta avoided him at the airport, stating that he was nowhere near JKIA. He branded the reports as fake news and accused the media of desperation. Despite these denials, Ruto has acknowledged a strained relationship with Kenyatta, referring to "countless humiliations" and the removal of his roles as an elected leader.
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Ruto dismissed claims that Kenyatta avoided him as fake news
In 2019, Deputy President William Ruto dismissed claims by a mainstream publication, The Standard, that President Uhuru Kenyatta avoided him at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). In a tweet, Ruto branded the claims as fake news, saying he was nowhere near JKIA. He further accused the media house of desperation.
The headline fueled speculation of rifts within the governing Jubilee party. President Kenyatta had bypassed the presidential pavilion, where his deputy, William Ruto, was waiting to receive him and left the airport through the ordinary passenger terminals. This was seen as a 'small deviation from the usual protocol' by officials, with Ruto leaving for the city centre as soon as he learned that the president had already disembarked from the plane.
This incident added to the talk of a souring of relations between the two leaders. Sources claimed that Ruto's failure to countermand his allies did not sit well with President Kenyatta. Observers noted that the president's subsequent departure for State House helped him avoid an uncomfortable meeting with his deputy, indicating potential displeasure with recent events.
The dynamic between President Kenyatta and Deputy President Ruto has been complex. While Ruto rose to the presidency promising to improve the lives of Kenya's poor and challenging the Kenyatta and Odinga dynasties, his presidency has faced scrutiny over public sector service delivery and alleged human rights violations. He has also appointed opposition members to state agencies, causing criticism from young protestors who accuse him of betrayal.
Despite the tensions, President Ruto has reached out to Kenyatta by appointing some of his allies to his cabinet and giving them posts in powerful ministries. These nominations are seen as a strategy to assuage the Mt Kenya region, which has become hostile to the president.
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Ruto's allies' pronouncements in Uasin Gishu upset Kenyatta
Uhuru Kenyatta avoided his deputy, William Ruto, at the airport, as Ruto's allies' pronouncements in Uasin Gishu upset him. Kenyatta is said to have been unhappy with the statements made by Ruto's allies, which amounted to a direct attack on the ongoing war against corruption. Laikipia Woman Representative Kate Waruguru, a member of Ruto's team, claimed that the corruption cases facing former Finance CS Henry Rotich were political and that Kenyatta had been misled. She also criticised Interior CS Fred Matiang’i for his involvement in the controversial sale of public land.
These pronouncements by Ruto's allies were seen as a public pushback against Kenyatta's development agenda. Naivasha MP Jayne Kihara and Kimani Ichungwa are among those whose statements riled the president. While Ruto remained measured in his responses, his failure to countermand his allies is believed to have contributed to Kenyatta's displeasure. The president's decision to avoid Ruto at the airport indicates a potential rift between the two and raises questions about their future relationship.
William Ruto, born in Uasin Gishu County, began his political career in Uasin Gishu Kanu politics. He rose through the ranks, eventually becoming the director of elections for a group of young Kenyans campaigning for President Moi's re-election. Ruto gained favour with Moi and was appointed to various positions, including Assistant Minister in the Home Affairs ministry. He later became the running mate of Uhuru Kenyatta and was re-elected as the deputy president in 2017. However, their relationship has since faltered, with Kenyatta calling for Ruto's resignation and supporting his opponent in the 2022 election.
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Ruto accused Kenyatta of sacrificing people in the name of fighting corruption
In 2019, President Uhuru Kenyatta bypassed the presidential pavilion at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), where his deputy, William Ruto, was waiting to receive him. Instead, Kenyatta left the airport through the ordinary passenger terminals, catching his deputy unawares. This incident fuelled speculation about a rift between the two and added impetus to the recent talk of souring relations.
Ruto, who was measured in his responses to the MPs' pronouncements in Uasin Gishu and Nyandarua, did not counter his allies' comments. Sources said his failure to do so did not sit well with Kenyatta. Observers noted that Kenyatta's subsequent departure for State House helped him avoid an uncomfortable meeting with Ruto, indicating the president's displeasure with recent events.
Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi, a member of DP Ruto's team Tanga Tanga, criticised Kenyatta's administration as the "worst in the country's history". He accused Kenyatta of sacrificing innocent people in the name of fighting corruption and questioned the authenticity of his friendship with Ruto:
> William Ruto let me tell you that your friendship with President Kenyatta is fake. Why sacrifice innocent people in the name of fighting corruption?
Ruto has also accused the DPP and DCI of spreading lies and propaganda in the name of fighting graft. He denied allegations that money meant for dam construction was stolen, insisting that no funds were misappropriated. Ruto warned investigative agencies against what he termed a political witch-hunt and targeting of individuals in the anti-graft war.
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Observers noted that Kenyatta avoided an uncomfortable meeting with Ruto
This incident fuelled speculation about a souring of relations between the two leaders. Sources indicated that Ruto's failure to countermand his allies' pronouncements in Uasin Gishu and Nyandarua did not sit well with Kenyatta. The president's displeasure was further evident in his decision to depart the airport for the State House, avoiding a potential encounter with his deputy.
The situation was exacerbated by criticism from Ms Waruguru, a member of Ruto's team, who accused Interior CS Fred Matiang’i of involvement in the controversial Ruaraka land saga. Additionally, Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi challenged Kenyatta's administration as the "worst in the country's history". These factors collectively contributed to the perception of a rift within the governing Jubilee party and growing tensions between Kenyatta and Ruto.
While Ruto dismissed the claims as fake news, asserting that he was not at the airport, the incident sparked discussions about the state of their relationship and the potential impact on their political endeavours. Ruto has since expressed his avoidance of a public confrontation with Kenyatta despite feelings of humiliation and the removal of his elected leader roles. He attributed these issues to individuals seeking to block his State House bid and undermine his reputation.
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Frequently asked questions
President Uhuru Kenyatta avoided Deputy President William Ruto at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) by bypassing the presidential pavilion and leaving through the ordinary passenger terminals. This fuelled speculation of rifts within the governing Jubilee party.
Ruto dismissed the claims as fake news, stating that he was nowhere near JKIA. He accused the media of being desperate.
The incident occurred when President Kenyatta returned from a trip to Zambia for the inaugural National Economic Summit (NES). There had been talk of a souring of relations between the two due to Ruto's activities in Central Kenya, which went against the President's efforts to rally support ahead of a planned tour of the region.
The incident added impetus to the talk of a souring of relations between the two. Ruto later stated that he had avoided a public confrontation with President Kenyatta despite countless humiliations and his roles as an elected leader being taken away.
Yes, Senate Majority Leader Kichumba Murkomen and Ms. Waruguru, a member of Ruto's team, criticised the President and his administration. Waruguru accused Interior CS Fred Matiang’i of failing to come clean over the controversial sale of public land. Murkomen accused his colleague Baringo Senator Gideon Moi of being behind the headline about the incident.
