The intrigue surrounding the interview between Deputy President William Ruto and NTV's Editorial Director in Broadcasting, Joe Ageyo, has elicited debate online over various issues including the interview being cut off prematurely before the DP finished making his remarks.
The interview was aimed at discussing the DP's agenda should he succeed his boss, President Uhuru Kenyatta as well as highlighting his role in the ruling government in reference to its successes and failures.
Throughout the interview, a back and forth ensued over the questions asked, which prompted Ruto to interject and express the questions which he felt Ageyo ought to have asked him.
This led to a section of Kenyans accusing the Deputy President of taking over the interview by setting and answering his own questions.
On the other hand, another section took fault with Joe Ageyo for being biased and allegedly pushing Ruto to a certain narrative.
The DP was particularly agitated when asked why he had complained about cabinet secretaries campaigning for a certain presidential candidate while he had defended them to do the same in 2017.
"Joe, are we ever going to talk about the issues about elections or we are going to discuss NIS, ministers? Let me be honest with you, and with a lot of respect, I want to discuss bottom-up. I want the people of Kenya to understand how their lives are going to change and the reason why I have taken the time to go to every county and listen in what we call the economic forum is that for a very long time we have made politics about the business of the elite."
"My good brother it's time that the ordinary Kenyan comes to the middle of the equation," Ruto stated.
Another highlight that elicited debate revolved around the bible verse quoted by the deputy president, which turned out to be non-existent.
"Let me tell you Joe, even Jesus Christ, I know you are a good Christian, in Matthew I think 17:29, his disciples when they were following him asked him we have left our families and business since we used to be businessmen and come to follow you. What is in it for us?" he inquired.
A spot check by Kenyans.co.ke found that Matthew 17 has only 27 verses and that the actual verse the DP had wanted to quote was Matthew 19:27 - “Look,” Peter replied, “we have left everything to follow You. What then will there be for us?”
The interview, which prolonged for an hour and twenty-six minutes, saw the DP dominate the programme - even as Ageyo complained about shortage of time and the disadvantage he had questioning the DP on some of the figures he was purporting to be in his manifesto.
"I feel disadvantaged because the figures you are throwing around, I cannot confirm them or interrograte them because they are not documented, but because time is limited, kindly answer my question on whether you will accept the results of the presidential election," the NTV boss pleaded.
Ruto stated that he would be happy to retire if he lost but would not commit to not challenging the results under any circumstances - and as he expounded on his answer - NTV cut off the interview in the middle of his speech.
This led to the Kenya Kwanza politicians and a section of Ruto's supporters calling out NTV for cutting short the interview prematurely.
