President Uhuru Kenyatta, on Monday, October 26, took a swipe at his deputy William Ruto, when he took the podium during the launch of the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report.
The Head of State insinuated that Ruto had abandoned the course making it difficult for him (Uhuru) to pass him the presidency.
Likening his behaviour to that of a relay track runner, Uhuru noted that the DP was aggressively charting his own path parallel to what his government was trying to achieve.
"This is a relay and we all know that in such a race, you cannot pass the button to someone who has chosen to run in the opposite direction," posed the President.
He further claimed that Ruto and himself were brought together by a common goal, but then the DP has taken a different path with his focus seemingly on succeeding him in 2022.
"We started together, but when we got to the middle, the 2022 politics brought war and he forgot everything else. That is why I am suggesting we slow down, the rest will just come," added the president.
Uhuru also noted that Ruto was part and parcel of the BBI report since its inception.
"I also want to thank my deputy president because all I know, along that path, I kept him abreast of what was going on. He was part and parcel, it is the truth. I am not lying, you can ask him.
"In fact, he helped me identify some of the people I just mentioned here, and the purpose as I had told him and as we agreed with Raila, was never to talk about what shall happen tomorrow in terms of elective posts. I said it was an extension of what I and you did in 2013," he continued.
So unsettling was Uhuru's speech that at some point, the DP stood up and whispered something into his ear.
Earlier, the DP had also been heckled mid-speech with some delegates asking him to leave the stage.
Ruto later called for leaders to refrain from contests pitting the rich and the poor.
The president had previously warned leaders from engaging in early 2022 politics arguing that it was time for his government, which he created with Ruto, to deliver its mandate to Kenyans.
The DP had been accused of spearheading a 2022 campaign machinery after declaring his interest in ascending to the top seat.
