I Cannot Meet President Uhuru in Person at the Moment, Deputy President Ruto Says

Deputy President William Ruto has explained why he has not been joining President Kenyatta during his addresses to the nation on the coronavirus pandemic. 

Speaking during a media briefing on Thursday, DP Ruto pointed out that his absence from Uhuru’s addresses was due to safety and security reasons.

He noted that this is the same reason why the Kenyan law prohibits the president and deputy president from traveling in the same aircraft, vehicle, and any other equipment. 

Ruto was responding to a question by one of the journalists during the press briefing held at his residence in Karen, Nairobi.

“To facilitate social distance, many meetings in the government are now done via video and teleconferencing. To remind you, ask yourself why the President and his Deputy cannot travel in the same equipment (by law) at any one time.,” he said, adding that he is actively involved in the fight against the pandemic.

“We consult regularly with the President and all Ministers involved in the management of this pandemic. That is the position of the Jubilee government,” he added.

This was DP Ruto’s first public appearance and address in over three weeks and came after Kenyans online raised questions about his whereabouts amid the Covid-19 outbreak.

“Let us not negotiate with our survival. The coronavirus can’t move, it needs our bodies to transfer from one place to another, curtailing our movement will hugely prevent the movement of this virus,” said Ruto.

“This crisis has completely disrupted our lives and taken away everything we took for granted. Normal is something we have to quickly unlearn and re-learn after the Covid-19 crisis. We don’t need a nuclear bomb to deal with coronavirus, all we need is to observe social distancing, wash our hands regularly among other precautions. Unless necessary, the rest of us must stay at home.”