Deputy President William Ruto will meet retired President Daniel Moi at a later date following Thursday’s unsuccessful visit.
Ruto together with his entourage, Energy CS Charles Keter, Ainabkoi MP William Chepkut and lawyer Stephen Kipkenda went to Moi’s Kabarak home but could not meet him.
They waited for two hours at the guest room but could not meet Moi because he was undergoing a routine physiotherapy session with his doctors for the entire duration of the visit.
A statement from Moi’s office stated that the former President offered to meet the DP on a later date.
“Deputy President William Ruto today visited the former president. Mr Ruto and his team were welcomed and had lunch at Mzee’s Kabarak home.
“Unfortunately, this coincided with the time Mzee Moi was undergoing routine physical exercise with his doctors. Mzee Moi agreed to meet him at a convenient time another day in the very near future,” read the statement.
Ruto left for Kabarak aboard a chopper together with his entourage after presiding over an official function at the Kenya School of Government in Lower Kabete Thursday morning.
He arrived at Moi’s Kabarak home around mid-morning.
David Mugonyi, the DP’s Spokesman said that the visit to Kabarak was a private affair and not a public one.
He, however, could not say if or not Ruto had booked an appointment with the retired head of state.
“This was a private visit. If it was a public visit, the Deputy President would have informed the media,” he told Daily Nation.
Ruto’s failure to meet the former head of state has stirred political waters in the Rift Valley and is likely to rekindle rivalry between the DP and Baringo Senator Gideon Moi.
Several quarters said the Senator who is also Moi’s son, may have had a hand in denying the DP a meeting with his father.
The two have had a frosty relationship in the past. Moi has expressed his interests in 2022 presidency, a move that is likely to drive the wedge further between him and Ruto who is also in the race.
Leader of Majority in the Senate Kipchumba Murkomen taunted the Baringo Senator who doubles up as the Kanu Chairman saying he makes it hard for anyone seeking to meet his father.
“As the chairman of Kalenjin MPs, I have time and again sought an appointment so we can go and visit Mzee. Ni ngumu (It is complicated). Those opportunities are given in bits like Panadol by his son,” opined the Elgeyo Marakwet Senator.