By Jakowiti Atwech
The tribulations facing Deputy President William Ruto seems to be growing each day after it emerged that he was denied access to his official residence in Mombasa on Wednesday.
This came after the Deputy President had already moved into the house that was repaired when orders to remove his personal effects were issued
Sources revealed that the DP arrived in Mombasa at midmorning on Wednesday and proceeded to attend to his scheduled business of the day. In the evening, at around 4pm, he retreated to his residence where he was scheduled to spend the night at the newly refurbished former Coast Provincial Commissioner’s official residence only to find staff packing his personal belongings, which had been lodged there earlier in the day in anticipation that he would spend the night there.
Sources say a call came from Karanja Kibichio to the government employees there that all the DP’s personal effects should be removed.
The DP was taken aback by the turn of events and, upon further inquiry, he was told that government staff had received instructions to remove Mr Ruto’s personal effects from the house.
Mr Ruto was forced to look for accommodation at English Point Marina in Nyali, where he spent the night. He came back to Nairobi the following day.
When contacted for comment, State House Spokesperson Kanze Dena directed us back to Mr Ruto’s communication team for comment.
The DP’s deputy spokesman Emmanuel Talaam said he had no idea why the DP had not moved into the house.
Coast Regional Commissioner John Elungata did not respond to phone calls and text messages sent to his phone.
Government spokesperson Col (Rtd) Cyrus Oguna refused to be drawn into the matter saying there are more critical issues to be addressed and that is a non- issue.
“If the DP is moving in today or tomorrow in my view is not an area of discussion. I would have hoped you asked me about the rains which have subsided or the locusts’ issue. There are very critical things you can focus on,” he said.
In November 2018, the Office of the Deputy President (ODP) hired a contractor to upgrade the former residence of the Coast PC and turn it into the DP’s official home.
The house was converted to the DP’s official house in a bid to cut costs when the DP travels to the coast region.
Mr Samuel Kilele, a former Coast PC and regional coordinator, was the last occupant of the house.
In Nairobi, instead of using the palatial official Karen property that sits on a 10-acre tract, the Deputy President uses the Sh400 million Karen residence for official functions, especially the hosting of political delegations.
