Protocol Breach As Uhuru Snubs Ruto During Madaraka Day Fete

The political differences between President Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto played out during the 59th Madaraka Day celebrations at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi on Wednesday. 

In an apparent breach of protocol, Kenyatta snubbed Ruto and failed to acknowledge his presence at the function or give him a chance to address the gathering.

Instead, Kenyatta started by acknowledging the presence of his Sierra Leone counterpart Julius Maada Wonie Bio, who was the chief guest at the event, before skipping Ruto to acknowledge the speakers of the National Assembly and Senate as well as Chief Justice Martha Koome.

After conferring various State awards to a select group of Kenyans, Uhuru invited the President of Sierra Leone Maada Bio to speak after which he went straight to his speech. 

This was a break from tradition where a few senior government and political leaders are given a chance to speak before the deputy president takes over to give his remarks and invite the president.

Earlier in the morning, Uhuru held a small ceremony at State House with members of the cabinet but Ruto, who fell out with the president shortly after the 2017 elections, was not present.

Ruto's spokesperson Emmanuel Talam told Nation that the deputy president was not invited to the ceremony that was attended by all Cabinet Secretaries, Attorney General Kihara Kariuki and senior members of staff at State House.

“He wasn't invited to the State House event,” Talam told the publication.

During the session, Kenyatta thanked members of his cabinet for being supportive and helping him to lay a foundation for the next administrations.

“I want to thank you as we have worked well together. It has been a pleasure and honor to have you with us. I am confident we have laid a firm foundation for those who will come after and continue build a big, brighter and more prosperous Kenya from where we have left off,” he said.