This archive report was first published on 15 September 2019.
Deputy President William Ruto's five-day visit to the Coastal region has been met with a lukewarm reception from local leaders, with many members of Parliament choosing to give him a wide berth.
Unlike in the past when he would be accompanied by a large entourage of MPs from the region, Ruto was this time seen only with Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa and Nyali MP Mohammed Ali.
The decision by the MPs to avoid Ruto is believed to be a result of a meeting between President Uhuru Kenyatta and the Coastal leadership last week, where they vowed to support the President's agenda.
During the meeting, the leaders presented a list of demands to the President, who in turn appealed to them to focus on serving Kenyans rather than engaging in premature 2022 politics.
Insiders believe that Ruto's decision to popularize his 2022 bid has continued to widen the rift between him and President Kenyatta, leading to the MPs' decision to distance themselves from him.
