President William Ruto on Monday, December 9, visited his former boss Uhuru Kenyatta at his Gatundu home.
This was the second time the two leaders were meeting in less than a month after their initial meeting in Embu during the consecration and installation of Bishop Peter Kimani Ndung’u.
According to State House, Ruto took the time to appreciate his predecessor during the meeting for the smooth transition of power after the 2022 Presidential elections.
“President Ruto thanked Uhuru Kenyatta for laying a strong foundation that enabled the government to implement key programs under the Bottom-Up Economic transformation agenda,” the statement from State House read.
President Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto on Monday, December 9, 2024.
Among the issues that also came up during the two leaders’ meeting was the prompt resolution of the court matters, which was the main obstacle hindering the reconstitution of the IEBC.
Further, Uhuru and Ruto also came together to urge Kenyans to stand behind their former adversary Raila Odinga’s candidature for the African Union Chair bid.
The timing of Uhuru and Ruto’s meeting was interesting since it came at a time when the battle for supremacy in the Mount Kenya region was intensifying.
Notably, Uhuru Kenyatta has been active with public appearances in recent weeks, a stark contrast to the silence he subjected Kenyans to in the months prior.
On Saturday, December 7, 2024, the former Head of State, was present during the wedding of Kalonzo Musyoka’s daughter Damarie Saada Kalonzo.
Kalonzo, a fierce critic of President Ruto’s regime, later reiterated his cordial relationship with Uhuru by issuing a public statement thanking the Jubilee party boss for his presence.
The meeting also came amid a looming cabinet reshuffle, with several cabinet secretaries potentially on the chopping board.
The bigger picture: From a political standpoint, it is easy to see why political leaders are intent on having Uhuru Kenyatta in their corner, three years to the general election.
Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has openly expressed his intention to rival Ruto for the presidency in 2027, and the key battleground between the two leaders appears to be the Mount Kenya region.
Since the impeachment of Rigathi Gachagua, Kalonzo has publicly backed the embattled former DP by openly calling out the state for allegedly frustrating Gachagua in different forms.
More recently, Gachagua and Kalonzo have collectively criticised the government over delays in the reconstitution of the IEBC.
