The political differences between President Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto played out during the 59th Madaraka Day celebrations at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi on Wednesday.
In an apparent breach of protocol, Kenyatta snubbed Ruto and failed to acknowledge his presence at the function or give him a chance to address the gathering.
Instead, Kenyatta started by acknowledging the presence of his Sierra Leone counterpart Julius Maada Wonie Bio, who was the chief guest at the event, before skipping Ruto to acknowledge the speakers of the National Assembly and Senate as well as Chief Justice Martha Koome.
After conferring various State awards to a select group of Kenyans, Uhuru invited the President of Sierra Leone Maada Bio to speak after which he went straight to his speech.
This was a break from tradition where a few senior government and political leaders are given a chance to speak before the deputy president takes over to give his remarks and invite the president.
Earlier in the morning, Uhuru held a small ceremony at State House with members of the cabinet but Ruto, who fell out with the president shortly after the 2017 elections, was not present.
Ruto’s spokesperson Emmanuel Talam told Nation that the deputy president was not invited to the ceremony that was attended by all Cabinet Secretaries, Attorney General Kihara Kariuki and senior members of staff at State House.
“He wasn’t invited to the State House event,” Talam told the publication.
During the session, Kenyatta thanked members of his cabinet for being supportive and helping him to lay a foundation for the next administrations.
“I want to thank you as we have worked well together. It has been a pleasure and honor to have you with us. I am confident we have laid a firm foundation for those who will come after and continue build a big, brighter and more prosperous Kenya from where we have left off,” he said.
Epitome of bad manners , …
Epitome of bad leaderahip , the height of bad manners, show of anger, spirit of vengeance and bitterness,outright divisiveness, lowest level of childishness, even the first Lady who is viewed by majority Kenyans as sober, snubbed her compatriot second lady,what a shame. Uhuru that is below everyone’s one expectations.All you did is self grandiose ! Maybe you are on the 5 stages of mourning.You are leaving a sit you thought utakufia hapo kama baba yako..n’go!.. kiti kitaamuliwa na wapiga kura bana kalewa Uhuru.Ichaweri utaenda upende usipende. Even us of nyumba ya mumbi we say go home!
@conish, Ruto deserved to be…
@conish, Ruto deserved to be snubbed FOOL!! Only the blind cant see Kenyans haven’t had a deputy president since 2017 when this greedy mofo absconded his duties for early campaigns trying to sabotage Uhuru and all hos development agenda. Good SNUB!! Its a shame that he is even called Deputy President, he is not and only exists by name only NO ACTION!!!!
@Kipruto James..you are so…
@Kipruto James..you are so vulgar in your response that I see a true Uhuru for RAO diehard. I know your are one of the many Kenyans who carry extra flesh between your thighs and less between your brians.How does that sound mister.You ain’t got vulgar language monopoly man.We can also hut back ? .
Are you happy now you mofo…
Are you happy now you mofo for insulting @kipruto for telling you and your ugly mother the truth about DP ruto? Kwenda huko.
Lecture yourself fool. Ruto…
Lecture yourself fool. Ruto deserved what happened. You only see it when your guy is sidelined. This guy was planning to assassinate Uhuru and take over power by force. What is surprising here kale boy?
We don’t wash dirty linen in…
We don’t wash dirty linen in public! How could you do that to Ruto infront of the visiting president Maada Bio of Sierra Leone,the foreign missions and the fellow kenyans? You disgraced our country Mr President. Even in times of difficulties and anger and annoyance, you had a duty to remain a father figure and a man for all Kenyans. You just insulted those who are for Ruto no matter how wrong they are for following him or how few they are! Besides, you may have won a few sympathy votes for Ruto against your team. Karma is a bitch my friend. See you at the polls!
Ruto have been washing his…
Ruto have been washing his dirty Lenin in the public arena as he disrespects the president for a long time. Why does Ruto cry now after the shoes has been thrown back to him to wear it? Wacheniujinga wafusi wa DP Ruto. Ruto is a very childish character who deserves everything he is getting. Nonsense.
Those following Ruto the…
Those following Ruto the thief are just dummies who get deceived with our stolen money. You too my thin skinned guy.
Someone received a lot of…
Someone received a lot of hateful responses on another forum when he said that going by Ruto’s behavior in the last few years, he would be in prison were Kenya an advanced democracy. I think both Uhuru and Ruto knew from the onset that they are totally different people and the only thing that bound them together was the ICC case. Their saga has undoubtedly taught future aspirants for the presidential post the perils of selecting someone who is diametrically different from them. In the meantime, someone was conned 300,000 schillings last night in Githurai through sim card swap.
MakOnyango, accordingly the…
MakOnyango, accordingly the right word for that someone would be that 95% of Kenya representatives including president Uhuru and even his new running mate Raila would be in jail.
Your interpretation is that…
Your interpretation is that of a sick kalenjin. Every jail both locally and internationally is currently waiting to accommodate Ruto for high levels of corruption.
The 5th president of kenya…
The 5th president of kenya is Raila Amolo Odinga. Meza wembe!
Why would Ruto be invited to…
Why would Ruto be invited to speak on hallowed grounds that he had stolen from the public to himself and Rachel? What would Ruto have said to save his face from his corruptions in the past 20 something years. There were not protocols that were broken at all.. You just don’t let a conman spin some shit as Ruto always does.
REALLY, WAIZI NI WANGAPI…
REALLY, WAIZI NI WANGAPI HAPA? UKWELI USEMWE!
Uhuru you did the right…
Uhuru you did the right thing. Your rogue DP broke protocol last week and invited Martha to speak so who knows what was up his sleeve this time? This is what is known.
1. That he hired goons to cheer him when his time came to address the nation. Well thanks to the intelligence, that did not happen.
2. These hired goons were to walk away as the president gave his speech and thats what they did but no one cared.
With such kind of ill mannered DP, who has no respect for the nation why would Uhuru hand him the microphone? So that he can invite his fellow thug Gachagua?