2019 has been already tuned into a political mode with some leaders eyeing for presidency seen traversing the Country to earn a following. Only hours after putting up a show of friendship in a church on Sunday, President Uhuru Kenyatta reportedly met his Deputy William Ruto yesterday in a meeting that is reported to have lasted five hours.
According to a local daily, President, who has on several occasions warned against 2022 politics, expressed his unhapiness with his number two starting early campaigns for his 2022 bid.
The meeting was held at State House Nairobi from 11am. It was not immediately clear if anyone else apart from the two attended.
The local daily reported that State House spokesperson Kanze Dena neither confirmed nor denied any meeting between the two leaders when reached for a comment.
She said she was not aware but it was not unusual for the two leaders to meet.
“I am not aware of any meeting. If there was one, we would have communicated through our official channels. Furthermore, it is normal for the two leaders to consult from time to time,” Kanze was quoted by the local daily.
The latest friction in Jubilee was triggered by ex-Jubilee Vice Chairman David Murathe who vowed to launch a stop Ruto movement and threatened to lead mass walkout from the party.
A section of Ruto’s allies hit back and threatened to mobilise against Uhuru triggering speculations that the DP was behind the rebellion.
“The DP is throwing punches [at the president] using the shield of his supporters. He cannot distance himself from his supporters,” claimed Narc Kenya Party Leader Martha Karua last week
As the war of words escalated, Uhuru and Ruto remained mum not appearing in public together until Saturday and Sunday this week
Uhuru spent the festive season in Mombasa dining with his new political soulmate, Opposition Chief Raila Odinga.
Ruto on the other hand was operating between Nairobi and his rural Sugoi home hosting delegations from various communities with his eye on the 2022 contest.
According to State House sources, the DP secured an appointment with Uhuru at 9am today.
However, they only met at 11 am, two hours after the schedule time.
It is in this meeting that sources told the local daily that Uhuru confronted his deputy and had a lenthy discussion over DP’s premature campaigns.