New twists have emerged in Deputy President William Ruto's apparent one-day trip to Sudan, on Tuesday, January 14, even as the director of communications at his office Emmanuel Talam insisted the DP was in Kenya when contacted by Kenyans.co.ke.
Media reports on Wednesday had indicated that Ruto had sneaked out to Sudan as President Uhuru Kenyatta reshuffled the cabinet, firing the DP's ally, Mwangi Kiunjuri from the Agriculture docket.
Daily Nation and The Standard on Thursday, January 16, reported that Ruto was scheduled to travel on Monday, January 15, but postponed his flight as the chartered plane he was to fly in failed to get clearance from the Kenya Civil Authority on time.
People Daily, on Thursday, January 16, reported that Kenya's ambassador to Sudan, Arown Suge confirmed the DP's visit to the nation.
"We do not know the details about his visit since it was private. He neither visited the embassy nor notified it," Suge stated.
The Daily Nation further reported that the DP allegedly flew to visit a thriving chicken farm in Khartoum Sudan, jetting from Wilson Airport
The Standard added that he flew in a private jet belonging to Phoenix Aviation, registration number 5Y-SIR and was accompanied by four close aides, including Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi and Abdul Mwasera.
"I think he wants to partner with the owners of the farm," a source close to the DP informed the Daily Nation.
Ruto with former Agriculture CS, Mwangi Kiunjuri, had in April 2018 visited the farm that at the time was rearing about 1.2 million chicken.
"I was impressed with the intensive methods to ensure healthy, productive broods. We will replicate these best practices to realise food security, a centrepiece of the Big Four," Ruto, a renown chicken farmer, posted on Facebook in 2018.
The Standard also reported that the DP bumped into Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka at Khartoum Airport. Kalonzo stated that both he and Ruto were marooned at the airport over the tense security situation in Sudan.
"I was on my official mission as the Special Envoy in South Sudan and we just bumped into one other with the DP at Khartoum Airport.
"Nothing pre-planned happened. There was no meeting at all. It is a desperate attempt to say the meeting was pre-planned. The DP was in the company of Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi. Also present at the airport was Kenya’s ambassador Chris Mburu," Kalonzo stated.
