Details have emerged of a secret night meeting hosted by Deputy President William Ruto at his Karen home to discuss President Uhuru Kenyatta’s tough warning that he will not spare even his closest political allies in the graft fight-a quote seen to target Ruto.
In attendance were DP Ruto’s most trusted allies with a top ranking member of his inner circle, who is also part of the parliamentary leadership confirming to Nation the meeting and the intrigues that was generated by the remarks.
Speaking in confidence, a well-placed source in DP Ruto’s corner divulged that the Friday night meeting included discussions on phone by the deputy president’s allies who wanted “permission” to fight back this weekend.
File image of DP William Ruto with Kipchumba Murkomen and Aden Duale 2022 succession politics and fight against corruption has caused tension within Jubilee party
The Friday night meeting come in the same week that saw DP Ruto give the clearest indication yet that all is not well in Jubilee with the administration turning against him under the guise of the war on corruption.
Speaking on Thursday, Ruto expressly described the ongoing purge as selective, lacking integrity, fought on convenient half-truths and with political outcomes in mind.
But the agenda for the Friday night meeting was the President’s salvo fired I Namibia that resulted in flurry of activities with the President’s social media accounts bearing the “offensive” remarks deleted.
President Uhuru Kenyatta's Facebook and Twitter accounts deleted
Friday saw President Kenyatta issue a firm commitment to fight corruption, making it clear that nobody -- not even his “closest political ally” -- would stand in the way of the anti-graft fight in what some analysts opine was a rebuttal to the assertions by DP Ruto.
The President’s no-holds barred offensive was documented and shared both on print, online and audio which went viral even as his social media pages containing the remarks were abruptly pulled down.
President Uhuru Kenyatta gives his address during a meeting with Kenyans living in Namibia on March 21, 2019
State House Chief of Staff Nzioka Waita described as a result of a breach of access.
Investigation on the Arror and Kimwarer dams that involve Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich are also of concern to DP Ruto’s men who have dismissed it as a witch-hunt linked to 2022 succession politics.
Reports also indicate that the tension in Jubilee is gradually evolving into a full-blown war in which individuals have to choose sides with some Cabinet Secretaries reported to be deliberately avoiding to be seen in public with the DP on his ‘development tours’.