Deputy President William Ruto's absence from the 2022 Madaraka Day celebrations has intensified scrutiny over internal rifts within Kenya's ruling Jubilee Party. The event, marking the 59th anniversary of Kenya's independence, saw President Uhuru Kenyatta deliver the main address without his deputy, a departure from established protocol.
Traditionally, the vice president serves as master of ceremonies during national events, welcoming guests and facilitating transitions between speakers. Ruto's omission from this role contrasted sharply with his previous involvement in similar ceremonies, prompting speculation about strained relations between the two leaders.
President Kenyatta's speech directly addressed foreign dignitaries, including Sierra Leone President Julius Bio, but made no mention of his deputy. This pattern aligns with growing tensions between the two figures, exacerbated by Kenyatta's public rejection of Ruto as a successor. In 2017, the president stated his choice for successor would 'shock the country,' contradicting earlier assurances that Ruto would assume leadership in 2022.
The political rivalry reached a turning point in March 2018 when Kenyatta publicly endorsed opposition leader Raila Odinga, effectively undermining Ruto's presidential ambitions. This shift followed a 2012 agreement that positioned Ruto as Kenyatta's designated successor, a pact reportedly severed by the 2018 alliance between the president and Odinga.
