Ruto Snubs Uhuru's BBI Event

President Uhuru Kenyatta (right) and his deputy William Ruto.
President Uhuru Kenyatta (right) and his deputy William Ruto.
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Deputy President William Ruto has snubbed the BBI signature collection launch held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).

Ruto's name was conspicously missing from the programme list at the event which was attended by President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

The DP's seat remained vacant, and placed next to that of the Head of State, proof that he may have been invited.

The event, which was scheduled to start at 9:30 a.m., kicked off with the singing of the National anthem moments after Uhuru's arrival.

The former Prime Minister Raila Odinga invited President Uhuru to give his speech, a break from the tradition where the Deputy President would invite the President.

President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga display copies of the report after its presentation by the Building Bridges Initiative at Kisii State Lodge. October 21, 2020.
President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga display copies of the report after its presentation by the Building Bridges Initiative at Kisii State Lodge. October 21, 2020.
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After Uhuru's speech, he would handover BBI booklets to coordinators before the event would close with the National Anthem.

The snub comes just a day after the DP lamented following an announcement by Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) George Kinoti to reopen Post-Election Violence cases.

Ruto claimed that the move was likely to cause further divisions between communities.

The Deputy Jubilee Party Leader claimed that recording of new statements from victims of PEV would reverse the gains his so-called Hustler Movement had gained against tribalism.

Ruto and his team have seemed to fall out of favour with their Raila counterparts in recent months.

A majority of Members of Parliament (National Assembly and Senate) allied to the DP had to follow Uhuru's State of the Nation Address on the television.

The MPs were locked out as part of a containment measure by the state to curb the spread of Covid-19 virus on Thursday, November 12.

At the time, former Senate Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen read mischief in the list of 26 Senators allowed into the chamber as it was dominated by allies of the President and ODM Leader Raila Odinga. 

An image of Uhuru Kenyatta
President Uhuru Kenyatta speaking in Parliament during the State of the Nation Address on Thursday 12 November 2020.
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