Ruto: I am in the Government loop on Covid-19 fight

Deputy President William Ruto (left) greets Silvanus Onyiengo, the MP for South Mugirango by tapping his feet after giving his speech yesterday at his Karen residence in Nairobi. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

Deputy President William Ruto has denied claims that he has been isolated from the Government team that is fighting the coronavirus disease, Covid-19.

Speaking yesterday, Dr Ruto (pictured) said he is well informed on what the Government intends to do to combat the spread of the virus.

The DP has been conspicuously absent in all government addresses made by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

And with some of the directives coming from the National Security Advisory Council (NSAC), where he sits as a member, doubts had been raised on his involvement in the country's top decision-making organs on coronavirus.

President Kenyatta has often been accompanied by Cabinet secretaries, including Mutahi Kagwe (Health), Fred Matiang'i (Interior), James Macharia (Transport), George Magoha (Education) and Joe Mucheru (ICT), when addressing the nation.

Ruto has not been seen at these functions, and has largely been out of the public limelight since the pandemic hit the country mid last month.

However, yesterday he came out to address the perception that he has been sidelined, maintaining that he is always aware of the efforts being taken by the Government to fight the disease.

He added that before information is passed to the public by the President or Mr Kagwe, there are teleconference deliberations that he is part of.

 “We consult regularly, almost on daily a basis with the President and other ministers in the management of this pandemic," said Ruto.

"To observe social distancing, many of the meetings are held through video calls or teleconferencing. We do not have to physically meet."

He defended his absence from the President's side when Uhuru delivers his address saying that best practises require that the two do not place themselves in situations that could compromise their security at this time.

“You may need to ask yourself why the President and the deputy cannot fly in the same plane at the same time. The same case applies in these national addresses,” said Ruto.

Ruto challenged parliament to come up with legislative measures that will cushion the poor living in informal settlements from the economic impact of Covid-19.

He said parliament should re-align the country’s budget to make resources available for the coronavirus war.

“That favourite matatu driver and bodaboda rider; reliable mama mboga, that dependable barber are all facing serious challenges," said Ruto

We ask parliament in its patriotism to create laws that are going to cushion these people from the economic effects of this disease."