This archive report was first published on 14 January 2020.
January 14, 2020, marked a significant escalation in the ongoing feud between President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto. The tension between the two leaders has been brewing for some time, with the latest development seeing Tanga Tanga allies locked out of a function in Nakuru.
President Uhuru Kenyatta is set to preside over a function to issue title deeds in Nakuru, but Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika and Nakuru East MP David Gikaria, both allies of Deputy President William Ruto, have been barred from attending.
According to Senator Kihika, the reason for their exclusion was their affiliation with the Tanga Tanga faction, which she sarcastically referred to as an 'unwanted organization.' She also questioned the sincerity of the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) in building bridges, given the recent developments.
Earlier in the day, President Uhuru Kenyatta had denied claims that the BBI report had split the Jubilee Government. In a statement, he said, 'I see no divisions in Jubilee party. It is unfortunate that in the process of unifying the country some people feel they have been left out. I have made it very clear that my objective is to unify Kenyans.'
However, the denial came as a section of Tanga Tanga members were teargassed at the Kilimani Police Station in Nairobi after demanding the release of Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria, who had been ordered to be released by the court.
