The late Jonathan Moi's funeral service, on Saturday at Kabarak University, provided an opportunity for Deputy President William Ruto to share a podium with Baringo Senator Gideon Moi.
The two have been engaged in a supremacy battle because both are considered as presidential candidates for the 2022 General Elections and Gideon is reported as being behind Ruto's failed attempts to visit former President Daniel Moi.
The sharp differences were evident in the kind of interaction and body language the two had around each other.
Nation noted that Ruto mentioned the name of the senator only once when he invited him to read the tribute from former President Daniel Moi while the Baringo senator mentioned the DP’s name once in the introductory remarks while recognising other leaders.
A video of Ruto's arrival to the dias shows other leaders getting excited at his arrival while Gideon, who had settled before the DP was unbothered.
In his speech, the country's second in command called for unity from all leaders regardless of political affiliation.
"I want to ask all of us, the way we have met here today from different political persuasions, from different parts of our nation, from different communities in this great country, that yes indeed, it is possible for us to sit together, reason together and build bridges of brotherhood unity and togetherness and have a great nation because all of us are here by God's design not by chance or by mistake," stated Ruto.
The DP disclosed that he too considers himself as a son of the former Head of State.
“I have come here as a son of President Moi to bury my brother Jonathan as I started my political career at Kanu YK 92 and I learned a lot from Mzee Moi,” he stated.
Gideon's brother Raymond Moi, who is the MP for Rongai Constituency in Nakuru, also reiterated the calls for unity.
“Today we have come together from different political affiliations such as kieleweke and others but Jonathan has brought us together and let us be united as a country.
“Let us not pretend to be united. Let us be united because after all we shall remain in this country and we shall never leave this country because it is the only country we have,” he emphasised.
