Kenya Deputy President , William Ruto was on Monday blocked from travelling to Uganda. According to the Deputy President’s office, Ruto was scheduled to make a private visit to Uganda but was told to first seek clearance from the head of public Service.
Mazima has learnt that three members of parliament who accompanied the DP were also blocked temporarily before being allowed to travel. Ruto was set to travel with three MPs including; Kiharu’s Ndindi Nyoro, Kapseret’s Oscar Sudi and Kinango MP Nenjamin Tayari.
According to David Mugonyi, his spokesman, the deputy president arrived at airport, all set for what would have been his second trip to Uganda in less than a month, but he could not be cleared for take off.
“He was told that he had to first seek clearance from the head of public service, when he called Joseph Kinyua, he said he wasn’t aware of such a directive,” Mugonyi said in a statement.
Ruto is said to have been kept waiting at the Wilson Airport from 2pm to 5;15 pm when his journey cancelled.
This news website has since established that Ruto was blocked from travelling over travel protocols. Kenyan top officials like the deputy president require clearance before leaving the country. Under the national security council procedure on travel by top public servants, the deputy president’s foreign trips must be cleared by the president.
What was on the DP’s agenda in Uganda remains unclear but his last trip in early July raised political eyebrows in the region with a section of newspapers reporting that he had sought the intervention of President Yoweri Museveni in mending fences with President Kenyatta.
During his July trip to Uganda, Ruto also officiated the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of a vaccine factory in Matugga.
