Where is Ruto? Questions Raised as Uhuru Delivers Coronavirus Address

On Sunday, March 15, President Uhuru Kenyatta confirmed two more cases of the Coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

The head of state issued a press statement on the steps of Harambee House, Nairobi, in the company of Education CS George Magoha, Interior CS Fred Matiang’i, Health CS Mutahi Kagwe, among other senior government officials.

However, questions of Deputy President William Ruto’s whereabouts surfaced online, with members of the public questioning his absence from recent state press conferences, at a time the country was facing a potentially devastating public health crisis.

All these emanating from arguments that matters of national importance were being communicated to the public in his absence, and allegedly, without his knowledge.

On March 13, DP Ruto was absent at the National Security Council (NSC) meeting that was chaired by President Kenyatta, something that raised eyebrows since he had also skipped a briefing of the National Emergency Response Committee on Coronavirus that was held on Thursday, March 12, 2020.

Both, meetings of national significance of which the DP’s presence, according to lay netizens, is required.

In the recent past, reports of the so-called ‘system’ emerged with which the deputy president’s allies alleging that the government was working to isolate the DP. 

This further builds up on alleged reports that the relationship between President Kenyatta and his deputy was deteriorating.

Through his social media page earlier today, DP Ruto shared a post of him attending a church service at Friends Church (Quakers), in Lang’ata, Nairobi County.

The deputy president in his message asked Kenyans to be prayerful as the country braved the Coronavirus pandemic.

“Even as we face the challenge of Coronavirus, let us remind each other of the scripture, 2 Chronicles 7:14: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven,” Ruto stated.

President Uhuru Kenyatta when he chaired a meeting with the National Emergency Response Committee on Coronavirus on Thursday, March 12, 2020.

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Observing the images from the church service, kenyagist.com established that the congregants in the church, led by DP Ruto had maintained a distance between them in terms of sitting arrangements.

Health CS Kagwe had earlier advised that members of the public avoid congested areas, as well as maintain a safe distance from each other as a way of preventing further spread of the disease.

The DP is well-known for religiously attending church services almost every Sunday that often is accompanied by hefty Harambee donations that have drawn criticism from various quarters – Kenyans could not help but speculate if the DP would put a halt to his church tours.

President Uhuru Kenyatta on March 15, advised citizens to avoid congregating in places of worship, as well as minimise attendance in social gatherings including weddings and funerals.

Speaking to kenyagist.com on Friday, March 13, Bishop Kennedy Kimiywee of the Christ Is The Answer Ministries (Citam), opined that religion was a sensitive matter and as much as the government along with churches issued guidelines on safety measures, it was up to individuals to determine one’s obligation to God.

“With the cure yet to be established, people are scared and in that state would tend to resort to faith to find solace. Everyone has his own or her own obligation to God, and to some point may feel that he (God) alone has the ability to protect them from the pandemic,” Bishop Kimiywee stated, noting that members of the public ought to be cautious.

President Uhuru Kenyatta when he chaired a National Security Council meeting on Friday, March 13, 2020.

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Deputy President William Ruto fellowships at the Friends Church (Quakers) in Lang’ata, Nairobi on Sunday, March 15, 2020.

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Deputy President William Ruto addresses congregants at the Friends Church (Quakers) in Lang’ata, Nairobi on Sunday, March 15, 2020.

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