A five-hour crisis meeting between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto on Friday brought to the fore the simmering tensions within the Jubilee Party and attempts to foster unity. The meeting comes in the backdrop of accusations and counter-accusations within the party’s rank and file over issues of corruption, contraband sugar and the 2022 presidential election.

These divisions have caught the attention of President Uhuru who is keen to end divisions within his party that threaten to derail his legacy. Sources said Kenyatta does not want to see what happened to the Grand Coalition Government during President Mwai Kibaki’s second term, in his party.

The crisis meeting that started at around noon saw Ruto delay already planned appointments such as the one with the parents and pupils of Pumwani Primary School in Nairobi County, as well as a meet-the-people tour of Starehe Constituency. The meeting started after Kenyatta had attended the Renault Virtual Reality Technology event at the Total Motorshow at Kenyatta International Convention Centre.