Deputy President William Ruto met his political rival Senator Gideon Moi at the burial of late Baringo South Member of Parliament Grace Kipchoim on Saturday.
The two were the talk of the town this week following the botched meeting between the Deputy President and retired Head of State Daniel Moi at the latter’s rural home in Kabarak, Nakuru county on Thursday.
Moi proceeded to shake Ruto’s hand when he arrived at the funeral, but pulled a dramatic stunt by leaving the VIP tent to go sit with mourners.
“Leo nimekuja kuzika huyu mama kwa sababu alisomeshwa na Baba yangu..sijakuja kuongea siasa (Today I have come to bury our mother because she was educated by my father…I have not come to talk politics),” Moi told the mourners.
He further urged leaders to leave his father out of politics and instead engage him, since he is ready to take the insults.
“I will distance myself from politics because I just came today purposely to grieve with the family of the late Kipchoim, but I will still be back to tell you my 2022 agenda,” he said.
“But I beg of you fellow leaders, keep my father away from insults and dirty politics. I am ready myself to stand for all abusive utterances,” Moi added.
Politicians drawn from Ruto’s camp accused Senator Moi of blocking the DP from meeting his father (former President Daniel Moi).
“You (Senator Moi) are fake because you allowed an outsider Raila Odinga who opposed Jubilee during the previous election to greet your father yet you turned to lock outside your own brother from the soil DP Ruto,” Kapseret MP Oscah Sudi told Moi during the funeral.
Ruto flew to Moi’s rural residence in Kabarak on Thursday, but was not able to meet the ex-President. His media team said in a statement that the former president was undergoing a routine medical checkup with his doctors at the time Ruto visited.
The late MP died on April 20th following a long battle with colon cancer. She was laid to rest at her Kimoriot home in Marigat, Baringo county.
