Why President Ruto locked out Kindiki, Kuria from key State House meeting

Some Cabinet Secretaries including one handling a plum and strategic docket, were on Tuesday locked out of State House and failed to sign their performance contracts.

According to an official programme released by State House Press Secretary Emmanuel Talam, the event was to begin at exactly 8 am.

This meant that all the CSs and their Principal Secretaries were to be seated early enough before the official time when the event would kick off.

Among those who were barred over lateness and did not sign their contracts were Interior CS Kithure Kindiki and his Trade and Industry counterpart Moses Kuria.

Also barred from the event presided over by President William Ruto were a few PSs and heads of parastatals who also arrived late for the event.

Speaking during the event, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua warned CSs and PSs over lateness saying that there cannot be any justification for that.

''I saw some were late, and I looked at the President in the eye and realised that there would be trouble for them,'' Gachagua said.

''You can't arrive at an event when the President is already seated. Why would you come late? How do you explain that? Who did you go to see and yet today was the most important day for you to sign contracts?''

The DP said that he cannot personally afford to be late and keep the President waiting as he is serious about his  job.

''Since you appointed me I have only been late once, it was only when you confused me because you said you would leave State House at 7:30 am so that we meet at the airport, but you left here at 6:30 am,'' he said.