Emmanuel Talam, Director of Communication in the Deputy President's office, has stated that President-elect William Ruto's circle is not yet aware whether he reached out to outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Speaking to the Standard, Talam maintained that he was not in a position to know if the two leaders spoke on the transition of power and other issues.
According to insiders and political experts, Ruto would have made public the details of their conversation as he seeks to assure his base that he and Kenyatta had resolved to work together given the acrimonious nature of the fallout between them.
Uhuru is supposed to hand over instruments of power during the swearing-in ceremony scheduled for Tuesday, September 13. However, Deputy President-elect, Rigathi Gachagua had in a past rally claimed that Uhuru was at liberty to decide whether to attend or skip the ceremony.
On Monday, September 5, Ruto, in his celebratory speech downplayed the rift between him and President Kenyatta, to the extent of promising to call him to facilitate a smooth transition.
Ruto made it clear that he does not harbour bitterness against Uhuru for endorsing Azimio la Umoja Presidential candidate Raila Odinga and reneging on their political pact.
"I will shortly be putting a call to my good friend President Uhuru Kenyatta. I haven’t talked to him in months, but shortly I will be doing a call to him so that we can have a conversation on the process of transition," Ruto stated.
"I know he worked hard in his own way, but the people of Kenya have made a decision, and we have absolutely no issue with the democratic decision of any Kenyan. When I chose Uhuru Kenyatta, I did not give him any conditions. So I take no offence at all that he chose to support another person. And therefore, we will remain friends in the context of where we are," he added.
Minutes later, Uhuru released a pre-recorded speech assuring the country of a smooth transition but deviated from congratulating Ruto.
Instead, the head of state called for the scrutiny of the Supreme Court verdict, which unanimously validated Ruto's win.
"While we must appreciate these institutions, we must hold them to account. Their truth has to be consistent and coherent. This is the only way we build our democracy," he stated.
