The tension between President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy, William Samoei Ruto, has gone a notch higher with the Head of State accusing the latter of antagonizing the country's quest for unity.
Speaking to Citizen TV on Monday, August 23, the President said the move by his deputy to create a rift between Kenyans has largely resulted in him (Ruto) being left out of the meetings between the Head of State and the opposition led by the Orange Democratic Movement leader, Raila Odinga.
The President said that it would be of no importance to invite his deputy to a unity meeting, arguing that Ruto has been opposed to the unity agenda as enshrined in the Building Bridges Initiative which was declared unconstitutional by the Court of Appeal of Friday, August 20.
"DP Ruto has been opposed to the process. You cannot bring someone who is opposed and does not want to see things happen on board. You cannot force something down someone’s throat," Uhuru stated.
The Head of State further dismissed claims that he was working on blocking Ruto from succeeding him in the August 9, 2022 General Election.
He, however, dismissed reports that his meeting with the ODM leader and the One Kenya Alliance was to choose his successor.
The President has so far held two meetings with Raila and the OKA co-principals including Musalia Mudavadi (ANC), Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper), Moses Wetangula (Ford Kenya), and Senator Gideon Moi (KANU).
On his part, the ODM leader had previously dismissed reports that the meetings with the President were to choose a 2022 candidate to face off with Ruto, adding that his recent meeting with the Head of State was just a holidaying meet.
"If I and President Uhuru have anything to announce, we will announce, but for now there is nothing to announce. We met but were just chatting up...nothing more," said Raila on August 8.
The President further took reservations with the manner in which his deputy is running his politics accusing him of building a career by opposing a government he is part of.
"Ruto is trying to create a base for future politics, which is his right but the manner he is doing it in is unfortunate, by going against the same government is wrong. What we are trying to achieve with BBI is what brought him and I together," noted the President.
In a veiled attack, the Head of State dared his deputy to quit if he is not happy with the government agenda.
"If you are not happy, step aside and allow those who want to move on do so, then take your agenda to the people. That is what happens in democracy, you cannot ride on what we have done and talk a different language on the side."
