Deputy President William Ruto allegedly suffered more humiliation, other than speaking after AU envoy Raila Odinga at the launch of Building Bridges Initiatives at Bomas of Kenya, Nairobi, on Tuesday, November 26, 2019.
Nation was first to report that before the event began, Ruto was locked out of a secret meeting between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Odinga.
Ruto was spotted outside the VVIP chamber where the two were meeting. The deputy president waited patiently alongside Presidential Escort Unit and the head of state's aide-de-camp Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Lekolol.
His supporters cried foul of how he was treated after the event, with some stating that he was forced to wait and was cleared to leave after Kenyatta's and Odinga's convoys.
While in his car, some delegates leaving the venue reportedly heckled at him, accusing him of opposing the initiative.
Ironically, the event's program was allegedly distributed 30 minutes before the event commenced, forcing DP Ruto allies to protest after discovering that Suna East MP Junet Mohammed was the emcee.
During the event, Ruto rarely indulged in petty conversations that were synonymous between Kenyatta and Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga. While clapping his hands, he did it casually, without enthusiasm. He cut a forlorn figure as his allies were under siege and read malice in the Bomas programme.
On Thursday, November 28, while speaking with Kenyans.co.ke, former Kakamega Senator, Boni Khalwale, lashed out at the organisers of the program, stating that they orchestrated a move to frustrate the DP.
"Where did you ever find a situation whereby the Deputy President of Kenya invites a mere citizen like Khalwale' to speak after him? Former PM ni raia (he is just but a common citizen)
"They should have let some people allied to Ruto speak I want to laud Murkomen for standing the ground. Ruto also rose above the pertinence of the intentions of those people. He remained calm. When asked to speak third last, he did obediently and gave a National reconciliatory speech meant to drive the process forward," Khalwlale opined.
However, political analyst Martin Andati argued that there was no issue whatsoever with the organisation of the event as it was not a normal government function.
"The BBI was an agreement between Odinga and Kenyatta. Ruto was an invited guest. If it was a government function, then Junet Mohamed would not have been the emcee.
"Khalwale is an activist and we saw him throw stones in Kibra. He has served in top offices like the Senate but he has never grown. A whole doctor at 60 years throwing stones. They should stop lamenting," Andati argued while speaking with Kenyans.co.ke on phone.
Video courtesy of YouTube
