Ruto locks Cabinet Secretaries out of State House meeting

By Peter Ochieng

President William Ruto on Tuesday morning revealed what can be termed as 'his ugly side.'

The Head of State reportedly locked out some Cabinet Secretaries and Principal Secretaries out of a State House meeting, for allegedly arriving late.

Among those reportedly denied entry are CS for Internal Affairs Kithure Kindiki and his Trade and Investment counterpart Moses Kuria.

The performance contract signing event was planned to start at 8am, which means all CSs, PSs and heads of parastatals were expected to seated by then.

Those who arrived late did not get a chance to sign their contracts.

Speaking during the event, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua said he knew trouble was up in the for those who arrived late.

''I saw some were late, and I looked at the President in the eye and realised that there would be trouble for them."

He added, "You can't arrive at an event when the President is already seated. Why would you come late? How do you explain that? Who did you go to see and yet today was the most important day for you to sign contracts?''

"State House, Gate D, is literally a parking lot as top GOK officials who came in late for Performance Contract signing are locked out. CSs, PSs, parastatal bosses all parked, hoping they will be allowed in. Meanwhile, the President demands a written explanation from each of them," wrote digital strategist Dennis Itumbi in a tweet.

It was not the first time the President was locking government officials out of a meeting for lateness.

Towards the end of 2022, Ruto locked out some senior government officials out of his meeting in Naivasha, Nakuru County for arriving late.