State House Dispels Claims That DP Ruto Was Not Invited To COVID-19 Conference

Deputy President William Ruto was apparently invited to the COVID-19 National Conference held at the Kenya International Convention Centre (KICC) on Monday.

The conference during which COVID-19 containment measures were deescalated was chaired by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Also in attendance was opposition leader Raila Odinga, ANC’s Musalia Mudavadi, Chief Justice David Maraga among others.

Missing was the DP whose seat was placed next to that of the head of state to his right.

DP Ruto allies have claimed that the “hustler” has been sidelined when it comes to matters COVID-19 hence there was no need for him to attend this particular occasion.

Others have alleged that the conference was a way of “sanitizing the Kemsa filth” through which the taxpayers stand to lose Sh2.3 billion as revealed by Auditor General Nancy Gathanga.

“So they want to PRETEND @WilliamsRuto missed this one? After deliberately keeping him out of their meetings since March hoping to use the pandemic to “SHINE”.Now since the ONLY SHINING & achievement frm it has been the #KEMSACovidHEIST,You want 2 use WSR to sanitize the FILTH?NO!” lamented Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wa.

So they want to PRETEND @WilliamsRuto missed this one? After deliberately keeping him out of their meetings since March hoping to use the pandemic to “SHINE”.Now since the ONLY SHINING & achievement frm it has been the #KEMSACovidHEIST,You want 2 use WSR to sanitize the FILTH?NO! pic.twitter.com/Xwy9zDyZy5

— KIMANI ICHUNG'WAH (@KIMANIICHUNGWAH) September 28, 2020

But according to State House Spokesperson, Kanze Dena, the second in command was indeed invited to the summit.

“State function programmes are done once someone has been invited and confirmed attendance. I don’t do the invites, but the information we have is that he was invited,” Kanze told the Nation.

On the other hand, Ruto’s director of communication Emmanuel Talam denied claims that his boss was invited to the event during which Kenya’s six-months fight with Coronavirus was discussed.

“I’ve no idea [why the programme showed he was scheduled to speak]. He’s rarely invited to Covid-19-related events. That’s on record. I don’t know about yesterday’s. But it would be interesting for anyone to suddenly realize that the DP is a stakeholder on matters of national importance,” Talam said.

On Tuesday, Kieni MP Kanini Kega said there should be consequences for the DP missing out on the conference.

“There is absolutely no reason why the deputy president would skip a state event, so we want to tell him, we cannot be appropriating funds to your office yet you are not ready to discharge the responsibilities that have been given to you by the constitution of assisting and deputizing the president,” Kega stated.

Ruto allies, including Ichungw’a warned those hinting at cutting funds to the DP’s office.

Ichungw’a said, “Did i hear Kieni MP say he can choose not to appropriate money to the office of the DP?? Kwani hii Pesa ni ya…. come on! Give us a break ! But try it bro ndio utajua for sure hamjui.”