Deputy President William Ruto on Thursday, for the first time, admitted that at one time he fell out with the Retired President the late Daniel Moi.
While speaking to Citizen Tv, DP Ruto lifted the lid on why his relationship with the late former president deteriorated despite being one of his key footsoldier during his tenure.
According to DP Ruto, his relationship with the late Moi went south when he declared his intention to run for the presidency in 2005.
The DP revealed his declaration for the top seat seemingly irked the late Moi since he had a different succession plan for the Kalenjin community.
After declaring his presidential bid, Ruto adds that a group of leaders accompanying him wanted to pass by and greet Mzee Moi as usual but they were shocked to find the gates closed and a directive issued indicating that the retired president had no interest in meeting them.
“It is true to the extent that our relationship deteriorated. Of course, when we got out of office and went to the opposition, there was a lot of witchhunts…
“The place where a small problem developed between me and Moi was in 2005. Trouble is now when we had a meeting in Eldama Ravine where I declared I will run for the presidency. That was the stroke that broke the camel’s back.
The Ruto, Moi relations:
Deputy President William Ruto on why his relationship with the late Mzee Daniel Arap Moi went cold #Tonight pic.twitter.com/vRRGEfYi6G
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) February 6, 2020
“I thought it was a small thing and we said let us pass by Kabarak because it was our tradition if we are in Nakuru we go and say hi to Mzee Moi. But this time around, after the meeting, we found the gates closed and a directive was given that Mzee does not want to meet us.
“Then he issued a very scathing statement against my announcement and castigating my statement that I was not serious that I was misleading the community. And that is when it came obvious he had a different succession plan for the Kalenjin community,” said Ruto.
According to Ruto, several leaders were sent to persuade him to shelve his presidential ambition but he told them off saying he was not interested in serving as a Kalenjin leader but as the country’s President.
The DP, however, eulogised the late Moi as a statesman who had contributed immensely to the growth of the nation.
William Ruto: As Rift Valley leaders then, I remember we issued a statement saying Moi was not going to record any statement anywhere because we believed this was a statesman who had done his term and had handed over power in a peaceful manner #Tonight pic.twitter.com/4CoWhEdlBc
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) February 6, 2020
He revealed that he was one of Moi’s key men who initiated a spirited campaign and defended him before the public eye.
Ruto asked the country not judge him by his style of leadership saying the context of the moment he was in charge of the country was different from the current one.
The confession by the DP comes at the time when it is alleged that he is sidelined in the burial preparations of Mzee Moi.
However, the DP has dismissed the reports saying those are blatant lies propagated by the media.