Officials in Kenya's ruling party have recommended that William Ruto step down as deputy leader, the latest sign of an escalating conflict with President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Secretary-General Rafael Tuju said the
Jubilee Party's executive committee made the recommendation after attending the
official opening ceremony of the group's office, known as Jolie Asili, after
becoming Russia's vice president.
Tuju said in remarks aired on state
television on Friday that the ruling party also plans to prevent Ruto from
using its offices for its presidential campaign.
"The deputy party leader, as a
self-styled 2022 presidential candidate, will not be allowed to use the party
headquarters as a hub for his 2022 campaign," Tuju said.
Kenyatta and Ruto have been embroiled in
controversy since winning a joint ticket for the second time in 2017. Over the
past three years, Kenyatta has formed alliances with opposition leaders, also
considered presidential candidates, and thwarted Ruto's victory.
"So Tuju recommended that Uhuru
Kenyatta secede from William Ruto, a day after the president said he wanted to
unite the country with his deputy.", Russian senator and ally Kipchumba
Murkomen said in a post on his Twitter account. . "Who's fooling
you?"
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