Deputy President William Ruto on Monday, September 28, skipped the Covid-19 conference hosted at Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).
The President officially opened the conference and was scheduled to deliver a state address on the Covid-19 situation in the country.
The official programme indicated that Ruto was expected to speak after former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and was to welcome Uhuru to issue his speech.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, Kanze Dena confirmed that Ruto was invited to the conference but was a no-show when it commenced at around 2 p.m.
Ruto's Deputy Director of Communications Emmanuel Talam, however, raised questions about the Deputy President being invited to the conference.
Interior CS Fred Matiang'i, Chairperson of Council of Governors (CoG) Wycliffe Oparanya, Odinga and Ruto were part of the guests invited.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa who is one of Ruto's close allies revealed that the Deputy President had a meeting planned with European Union delegates.
"He had a very important meeting which took longer than expected. It is not necessary that he has to attend the conference because he is the assistant to the President so when Uhuru is attending, he does not necessarily have to attend.
"He was meeting EU delegates in Karen to unlock the deadlock of global funds brought about by the Covid-19 millionaires Exposé so that the country can resume receiving the funding," explained Barasa.
Ruto was last publicly seen in Bumala as he attended an interdenominational prayer service with believers from Pentecostal churches in Bumula.
Jubilee Nominated Senator Millicent Omanga, however, insisted that Ruto was not invited to the conference.
"When planning for COVID-19 response mechanisms they neither invited Ruto nor did they offer him a seat. After messing up and they need someone articulate they offered him a seat at the National Covid-19 conference. And you expected him to attend? NEVER!" she noted.
Uhuru and Ruto have had a frosty relationship as the Deputy President has been sidelined from a number of decisions with the Jubilee Party failing to field a candidate in the Mwambeni Consituency by-election being the most recent.
