This archive report was first published on 6 December 2019.
State House Denies Locking William Ruto Out of Uhuru-Raila Meeting ¶
State House Spokesperson Kanze Dena has dismissed claims that Deputy President William Ruto was locked out of a private meeting between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Opposition leader Raila Odinga at Bomas of Kenya.
According to Kanze, the media misinterpreted a short video clip that captured Ruto wandering outside a closed and guarded room.
Speaking during a press briefing at State House on Thursday, December 5, Kanze clarified that Ruto was part of the meeting and left ahead of Uhuru and Raila.
She dismissed claims that Uhuru and Ruto were not reading from the same script, saying the two leaders were in good terms and focused on serving Kenyans.
Her remarks came barely a day after Uhuru went on a public ranting spree that many observers felt was an attack directed at Ruto and his allies.
Uhuru, who was speaking at the official hand-over ceremony of Mangu Dispensary Outpatient Block in Kiambu county on Wednesday, December 4, said some leaders who were spreading false information about the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) instead of concentrating on serving the people were 'lost.'
Uhuru also bitterly rebuked those who were mounting pressure on him to declare his preferred successor ahead of the beckoning 2022 succession contest.
He said when the time comes, it will only be God and the people who know who will be elected, and that no one should keep singing to them about who will be elected.
Uhuru's remarks were seen as a response to the growing pressure on him to declare his preferred successor.
