Uhuru denies snubbing Ruto invites, says he did not attend events to focus on Garissa attack

President Uhuru Kenyatta at a past event.Photo/File

BY LYDIA MATATA | April 11, 2015 -

President Uhuru Kenyatta has said he did not snub two invitations from Deputy President William Ruto to events in the Rift Valley.

Uhuru through State House spokesperson Manoah Esipisu said that the  eventS in Kapsabet on Friday were among the many that fell to the "wayside" as the President focused on the Garissa University College terror attack that left 147 students dead on Thursday last week.

"As every right thinking Kenyan knows, in the aftermath of the Garissa attacks, many scheduled events in the President’s diary fell by the wayside as he focused on dealing with this crisis. Consequently, the President asked His Excellency the Deputy President to stand in for him at the Kapsabet event," the spokesperson said.

He said that other pressing engagements precluded the President's attendance to the ASK show in Eldoret last month.

Esipisu said that Ruto was asked to represent the President at the events as he focused on the pressing matters.

"Any suggestion that the President did not honour the Rift Valley events because they were not canvassed properly or were not in his diary are false and malicious," he added.

Esipisu further said that Political advisor Joshua Kutuny is not responsible for the President's diary. 

The Star had reported Uhuru's absence at the two key events in Rift Valley is causing discontent among some politicians and farmers.

State House Political Adviser Joshua Kutuny had said on Friday that the President was not able to attend the event in Nandi because it was not in his diary. 

“I urge organizers of such key events to ensure that they invite the President through the right channels by writing to State House at least two months in advance so that all events are planned for,” said Kutuny. 

Kutuny further said that the President could not snub Rift Vally when invited procedurally as it is a vital region. He said the President has plans to soon visit the region to address key issues affecting residents.

- See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/uhuru-denies-snubbing-ruto-invites-says-he-did-not-attend-events-focus-garissa-attack#sthash.muI0WJ7J.rfwcsRLM.dpuf