During the Friday meeting at his official Karen house in Nairobi, the DP decided to have a deep discussion with 1,200 elders from Kiambu, the President’s home county. President Kenyatta’s cousin was among the elders who paid him a visit.
Friends turned adversaries
Ruto stated that his tumultuous relationship began before the 2017 elections. He informed the elders that it was widely assumed he would not support Mr Kenyatta’s re-election due to perceived disagreements at the time.
According to a leaked audio tape, Deputy President William Ruto also revealed that he was in a heated argument with his boss, President Uhuru Kenyatta, in the hours following the annulment of their 2017 election victory.
DP Ruto told the Kikuyu elders that President Kenyatta was so distraught by the Supreme Court decision ordering a rerun of the election that he nearly abandoned his bid for re-election. Only because of his tenacity did he agree to run again in the second poll, which was boycotted by the opposition National Super Alliance (Nasa) presidential candidate Raila Odinga.
Despair and Surrender
President Kenyatta was visibly upset by the Supreme Court decision ordering a rerun of the election, according to DP Ruto, and he nearly gave up fighting for re-election.
Only because of his persistence did he agree to run again in the second poll.
