Deputy President William Ruto who was conspicuously missing at State House during the naming six retained cabinet secretaries Friday evening finally opened up about his perceived rotting relationship with President Uhuru Kenyatta.

DP Ruto, who is said to be out of the country for a private holiday, through his spokesperson David Mugonyi dismissed speculation of tension between the President and his deputy saying that it was not a must that he accompanied President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House.

Kenyans online spent a better part of Friday evening trying to piece together why the outspoken DP missed the crucial event, different from the 2013 fete in which he stood side by side with President Kenyatta during the key event.

“The Constitution is very clear on who appoints the Cabinet. We should stop this nusu mkate mentality that has existed in some people’s minds. Who says so and so must be present for something to have concurrence,” Mr Mugonyi paused as quoted by Saturday Standard.

Another source close to the DP added: “Maybe it is the new way of doing things.”

Earlier, speculations were rife that the two had failed to agree on who should join the cabinet for the second term. While President Kenyatta’s headache remains his legacy, DP Ruto’s agenda is strictly to mobilse more numbers in preparation for the titanic 2022 general elections, in which he will contest for the presidency.

Since their swearing in fete on November 28 at Kasarani Stadium, the duo have not had a common presser to the media, but in September just after Supreme Court annulled their re-election, they had a presser to castigate the decision by the CJ David Maraga-led court.