President William Ruto on Friday acted swiftly and guarded against breach of protocol during the funeral service of fallen World Marathon Record holder Kelvin Kiptum in Keiyo South.
It was at the end of the funeral service held at Chepkorio showground in Elgeyo Marakwet County where the President led family, friends, relatives and various leaders in according the champion a befitting send-off.
In keeping with protocol, leaders led by the President and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua were the first to be allowed to leave the venue of the service for the burial at the athlete’s home.
The President and the DP were walking side by side with various leaders in tow including MPs and Cabinet Secretaries.
Second on the President’s right-hand side and immediate to the DP’s was the Kapsaret MP Oscar Sudi.
At some point, Ruto appeared to be saying something to Sudi who, in an apparent effort to give the President undivided attention, moved closer to him, displacing Gachagua in the process.
But just in the nick of time, the President extended his hand and kept a distance between him and the MP as Gachagua moved back into position right next to the Head of State.
A video clip that captured the moment was Friday evening doing rounds on social media with the majority of Kenyans saying the President was justified in ensuring no breach of protocol occurred.
“President Ruto was right to guard his deputy,” one user on X, Joel Mulwa Jr said.
“Eeeeh ok. Ruto knows a lot in terms of governance and protocol,” added @ProRataa.
Presidential protocol demands that the President and his deputy are given priority to leave official or public events before other leaders and the general public can be allowed to leave.
It is also expected that the DP remains second in command even when walking and a junior government official or any other leader should not be next to him.
According to Executive Order No. 1 of 2023, the order of seniority after the President and Deputy President ranks the Prime Cabinet Secretary, the Attorney-General then Cabinet Secretaries.
They are followed by the Chief of Staff and Head of the Public Service, Secretary to the Cabinet, Principal Secretaries, Comptroller of State House, the Private Secretary to the President, the Chief of Staff to the Deputy President and the Chief of Staff to the Prime Cabinet Secretary.
