A simmering feud between President William Ruto and retired President Uhuru Kenyatta reportedly erupted last week during the African Union (AU) summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, casting a shadow over Kenya’s diplomatic image and regional peace efforts.
Sources close to both leaders confirmed that the two clashed during a private meeting convened by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who sought to reconcile them amid growing tensions. The meeting, held on the sidelines of the AU summit, was part of broader discussions aimed at restoring peace in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
According to aides and attendees, the confrontation between Ruto and Uhuru disrupted the session and drew concern from other African heads of state. A photo that later went viral, showing Prime Minister Ahmed standing between the two Kenyan leaders, was reportedly shared online by Uhuru’s team.
AU member states are said to have raised questions about the stalled peace process in eastern DRC, with several pointing to the frosty relationship between the two Kenyan leaders as a key obstacle.
President Ruto has been directly involved in peace efforts by deploying Kenyan troops to the region, while Uhuru serves on the AU panel alongside the East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC), tasked with facilitating reconciliation in Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu provinces.
Diplomatic sources indicated that Uhuru is expected to consult with Ruto on progress and challenges in the peace process. However, their strained relationship has reportedly hindered coordination, slowing down or halting critical interventions as violence continues to escalate in eastern DRC.
Prime Minister Ahmed is said to have initiated a reconciliation process between the two leaders to salvage the peace plan and restore Kenya’s credibility as a regional mediator.
The fallout comes just three weeks after Muhoho Kenyatta, Uhuru’s brother, met with President Ruto at State House in Nairobi, a meeting that had been interpreted as a sign of thawing relations.
Domestically, Uhuru has recently re-emerged in political circles, backing Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, pushing for the revival of the Jubilee Party, and reportedly endorsing former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i for the presidency.
Observers warn that the public rift between the two leaders not only undermines Kenya’s diplomatic standing but also threatens to derail critical peace efforts in the Great Lakes region, where millions continue to suffer from ongoing conflict.
