Uhuru, Ruto To Meet At State House

Outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta and President-elect William Ruto are set to meet each other at State House in Nairobi.

Ruto made his way to State House on Monday, September 12 for a one-on-one handover with Kenyatta. He was in the company of Mama Rachel Ruto while Uhuru is with First Lady, Margaret Kenyatta for the meeting and walk-around.

He arrived at the entrance to the House on the Hill aboard a Lexus LX shortly after 4 pm and was welcomed by Uhuru with a handshake and in the company of tight security.

President Uhuru Kenyatta and First Lady Margaret Kenyatta welcome president-elect William Ruto and his wife, Mama Rachel Ruto, to State House. /TWITTER

This comes before Ruto's swearing-in ceremony that will take place the following day at Kasarani Stadium. He will afterwards become the fifth president of the Republic of Kenya.

A live address to the nation by the two leaders will follow soon after the meeting. This is their first face-to-face since Kenyans went to the polls.

Why Uhuru Has To Take Ruto On State House Tour

In the two transitions of power Kenya has had since independence, the outgoing presidents took their successors for an orientation tour at State House. The former presidents have also expressed their kindness to incoming Heads of State.

In 2002, Kenya's second president, the late Daniel Arap Moi, took his successor Mwai Kibaki around State House after the latter’s election, despite having supported a rival candidate. Moi was also subject to humiliation during the handing-over ceremony at Uhuru Park where the crowd hurled insults at him. 

In 2013, the late former President Kibaki welcomed the win of President Uhuru and William Ruto who vied under the Jubilee Coalition and was swift in congratulating the duo after they won the elections that year.

After the swearing-in of Uhuru as the fourth president, Kibaki retreated to State House for a farewell dinner with the newly elected president. 

"I am here to hand over the management of the affairs of our nation to a new generation of useful leaders," Kibaki stated in 2013. 

This year's transition could send eyebrows popping after the strained relationship between President Uhuru Kenyatta and his soon-to-be successor William Ruto. Uhuru is yet to congratulate President-elect William Ruto- more than three weeks after he was declared the winner. 

"Unfortunately, President Kenyatta has not seen it fit to congratulate me. Maybe he's a bit disillusioned or maybe he's unhappy that I defeated his candidate, but that is the nature of politics," he said in an interview with CNN.

Uhuru on his part reiterated that he will hand over power peacefully to President-elect, William Ruto, whose victory in the elections was upheld by the Supreme Court. This is in accordance with the law.

However, it did not mean that he was supporting Ruto and that his choice has always been Azimio la Umoja leader, Raila Odinga.

“I will hand over power smiling because it is constitutional. Aluta continua but I will leave knowing Raila is my leader.

“You have denied yourself the opportunity of bringing the country together,” the outgoing president stated.

President Uhuru Kenyatta has a word with his deputy Dr William Ruto during the 57th Madaraka Day Celebrations on June 1, 2020, at State House Gardens, Nairobi. /DAILY NATION