Deputy President William Ruto, on Sunday night, called out The Standard newspaper for what he termed as fake news.
His attention was drawn to the cover story on the newspaper dated Monday, July 29, 2019, which was titled "Why Uhuru Avoided Ruto at the Airport"
The article claimed that President Uhuru Kenyatta had jetted in from Zambia on Saturday evening and dodged his deputy, who was waiting to recieve him at the JKIA Presidential Pavillion.
"The president, who arrived at JKIA at 4pm on Saturday, discarded protocol and went straight to the international passenger terminals catching his deputy unawares. Ruto was accompanied by Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu.
"Dr Ruto, who was waiting at the pavilion, immediately left for the city centre, after he was informed that the president had already disembarked from the plane and was inside the airport in a series of events that officials tried to dismiss as a ‘small deviation from the usual protocol," The Standard reported.
The newspaper also explained that according to its sources, Uhuru was not keen to be seen with the Kiambu governor who was on EACC's radar.
"Mr Kenyatta is also said to have been unhappy with pronouncements the DP’s allies made the previous day at an event in Uasin Gishu that amounted to a direct attack on the ongoing war against corruption," he article further reported.
Taking to Twitter, DP Ruto dismissed the story and explained that he had not gone to receive President Kenyatta at the airport when he jetted in.
"I was nowhere near JKIA. I am not surprised that some media houses and their owners are this desperate. Tuwasamehe tu (Lets forgive them)!!" Ruto posted on his Twitter.
Senate Majority Leader, Kichumba Murkomen, joined in the bashing, even daring to accuse his colleague Baringo Senator Gideon Moi, to be behind the headline.
Senator Murkomen also explained the whereabouts of DP Ruto during the time he was claimed to have been side stepped by Uhuru.
"Yesterday after a public function at Nyandarua,the DP proceeded to visit his friend Mzee Ole Muyaa in Kajiado. Around 6.30pm, he left Kajiado for Nairobi.
"Meanwhile HE Uhuru Kenyatta jetted back at around 5pm. Now see how my colleague Gideon Moi has reported.Pettines and desperation!" the Elgeyo Marakwet senator tweeted.
