Museveni: We won’t Support any Side in Kenya’s Elections

While speaking in an interview with Uganda's New Vision newspaper on Monday, Museveni said that the elections are Kenyans' affairs and that his country does not take sides.

“Elections in Kenya or any other African country are a matter for the people of that country,” said the Ugandan Head of State.

“We never take sides in the internal affairs of other countries. So, we have no side in the Kenya elections,” he added. 

Ruto’s relationship with the long-serving Ugandan president has previously come under heavy criticism from Ugandans who accuse Ruto of getting involved in the country’s politics.

In 2015, Ruto was active in Museveni’s campaign trails, something that did not go down well with Uganda’s opposition politicians. 

Ruto flanked by a section of his allies, was also hosted by Museveni in 2019 at State House Kampala but details into the three-hour meeting were not divulged. 

In July, ​​Ruto was invited by Museveni as the chief guest at the official stone-laying ceremony for a vaccine manufacturing plant, sparking speculation in Ugandan media about a possible interest by Museveni in Kenya’s 2022 General Election outcome.

He would later be barred from traveling to Uganda alongside his team in August last year, on grounds he didn’t have a clearance from the Ministry of Interior.

Ruto, however, maintained that he does not need official clearance to make private visits, claiming the fiasco was meant to embarrass him and counter his 2022 presidential succession ambitions.