Uganda denies meddling in Kenya's affairs over Ruto's aborted trip

KAMPALA, Uganda

Uganda has denied meddling in Kenya's affairs saying it had not arranged any protocol for Deputy President William Ruto's aborted visit.

Uganda's ministry of foreign affairs said the Protocol Department has no record that there was a request for them to provide protocol services to Ruto.

“I was not informed by the chief of protocol being requested by the Kenyan High Commission in Uganda to provide protocol services to the Deputy President,” State Minister for Foreign Affairs Okello Oryem said.

Oryem said Ugandan foreign policy is very clear that they don’t interfere in the internal affairs of any country whatsoever.

"We have no authority, we have no power over Kenyan government, they have their own reasons why they prevented Ruto from coming to Uganda," he said. "...and that should be channelled to the Kenyan High Commission. "

Ruto was set for a private trip to the neighbouring country on Monday, which was to be his second trip in a month but was blocked by immigration officials at Wilson Airport.

However, during an interview with Inooro FM Wednesday, Ruto said he has previously travelled without obtaining clearance.

“What happened at Wilson is part of the onslaught on me in the supremacy fights in the ranks of Jubilee,” the DP said.

The deputy president said he has been side-lined in government for quite some time.

"This was to belittle me. I was not going on government business. It is my private business.  I don’t want to speak much on them since they don’t have any bearing on Kenyans' issues," he said.

On Monday, after waiting for clearance for about five hours, the DP is said to have given up and returned to his office.

Ruto’s communication secretary David Mugonyi said Ruto was asked to seek clearance from the Head of Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet Joseph Kinyua.

However, Interior PS Karanja Kibicho said the Ministry of Interior was not involved in the blockage of Ruto from travelling to Uganda.

The PS said regulations demand that every civil servant should have clearance, apart from other requirements needed before traveling.