PHOTOS: President Ruto Gives His ‘Good Old Friend’ Uhuru Kenyatta A Tour Of The New Look State House

In a symbolic display of statesmanship and reconciliation, President William Ruto on Friday hosted his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta for a personal tour of the renovated State House, Nairobi, following the conclusion of a landmark joint EAC-SADC summit on peace and stability in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The gesture, which Ruto described as showing his “good old friend” around, marked Kenyatta’s first return to the house on the hill since handing over power on September 13, 2022.

“I had the pleasure of conducting my old good friend, Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta, on a tour around State House after the joint EAC-SADC meeting on the restoration of peace and stability in the DRC,” President Ruto shared on his X platform, highlighting both the personal and diplomatic significance of the moment.

The images released from the tour showed the two leaders sharing warm embraces and walking side-by-side through the corridors of power in what appeared to be a genuine moment of reconciliation.

The tour offered Kenyatta a glimpse of the extensive renovations currently transforming the iconic residence.

From interior modifications to the dramatic facade changes featuring a new flat roof design, the revamped State House showcases significant infrastructural upgrades. Photos from the visit revealed that some areas remain under active construction, with loose cabro blocks and scaffolding still supporting ongoing work by contractors.

The timing of this personal gesture was particularly poignant, coming immediately after both leaders had participated in a high-stakes diplomatic summit addressing one of Africa’s most pressing security challenges.

The joint EAC-SADC meeting, co-chaired by President Ruto in his capacity as current EAC chairman and Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa as SADC Chairperson, brought together distinguished African leaders to forge a unified approach to the protracted conflict in eastern DRC.

The summit featured an impressive panel of African statespeople, including Kenyatta himself, Nigeria’s Olusegun Obasanjo, Ethiopia’s Sahle-Work Zewde, Botswana’s Mokgweetsi Masisi, and former Central African Republic President Catherine Samba-Panza. This distinguished group has been tasked with leading a consolidated mediation process that merges the EAC’s Nairobi Process with the SADC-backed Luanda Process into a single African-led peace initiative.

The relationship between Ruto and Kenyatta has been one of Kenya’s most compelling political narratives over the past decade.

Once dubbed “UhuRuto” for their seemingly unbreakable alliance, the pair rose to power together in 2013 under the Jubilee Coalition, with Kenyatta as president and Ruto as his deputy.

Their partnership secured electoral victories in both 2013 and 2017, but cracks began to show during Kenyatta’s second term.

The turning point came in 2018 with Kenyatta’s famous “Handshake” reconciliation with opposition leader Raila Odinga, a move that effectively sidelined Ruto and altered the political landscape.

The relationship deteriorated further when Kenyatta endorsed Odinga over his own deputy in the 2022 presidential election, leading to public disagreements and accusations of betrayal that dominated the campaign period.

Since assuming the presidency in September 2022, Ruto has faced significant governance challenges, including widespread public protests over tax policies and the controversial impeachment of his deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, in October 2024.

The latter move particularly alienated sections of the Mt Kenya region, Kenyatta’s political stronghold and a crucial voting bloc for any successful presidential campaign.

Recent months have seen deliberate efforts at reconciliation between the former allies.

In December 2024, Ruto made a surprise visit to Kenyatta’s Ichaweri home, marking their first significant private engagement since the bitter 2022 election campaign.

This was followed by Ruto’s strategic appointment of several Kenyatta allies to key cabinet positions, moves widely interpreted as attempts to rebuild bridges with the Mt Kenya region.

“This meeting demonstrates remarkable political maturity from both leaders,” observed political analyst Herman Manyora. “While they’re addressing serious regional security concerns, the personal reconciliation sends a powerful message about putting national and continental interests above individual political differences.”

The diplomatic context of their reunion adds another layer of significance.

Kenyatta emphasized during the summit that the new unified approach to DRC peace processes represents strengthening rather than replacement of existing efforts.

“This is not about replacing one process with another, but fusing our efforts to make them stronger,” he stated, reflecting a philosophy that could equally apply to their personal relationship.

The joint communique from the summit outlined ambitious resolutions including the formation of a Joint Secretariat under the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa, unified terms of reference for all facilitators, and a comprehensive Resource Mobilisation Framework to support peacebuilding and humanitarian assistance in the DRC.

“This is about charting an African path to peace. We must harmonise our strengths and speak with one voice,” the communique declared.

For Ruto’s administration, the collaboration with his predecessor serves multiple strategic purposes.

It projects an image of inclusivity and national unity at a time when his government faces domestic political pressures.

The gesture also potentially helps rehabilitate his standing in Central Kenya, where Gachagua’s impeachment created significant political fallout.

Public reaction to the State House tour was notably positive, with many Kenyans expressing satisfaction at seeing their current and former presidents working together.

Social media responses praised both leaders for demonstrating that political differences need not permanently damage personal relationships or derail important national and continental responsibilities.

The summit’s timing also addresses growing tensions within the East African Community, where disputes between member states have threatened regional unity.

Kenya’s role as host, combined with the visible cooperation between Ruto and Kenyatta, demonstrated the country’s continued commitment to regional leadership and dialogue.

As the two leaders concluded their tour of the renovated State House, their rare public reunion offered more than just diplomatic symbolism. Walking together through the same corridors where their partnership once flourished and later fractured, they embodied the possibility of reconciliation and renewed cooperation in service of broader goals.

The State House tour stands as a testament to the evolution of Kenya’s political landscape, where former adversaries can find common ground in shared responsibilities.

As both leaders continue to shape Kenya’s domestic and international trajectory, their renewed collaboration suggests that personal reconciliation and professional cooperation need not be mutually exclusive.

The success of their joint efforts in regional peace processes, combined with the symbolism of their State House reunion, offers hope for both Kenya’s political stability and Africa’s capacity to deliver homegrown solutions to continental challenges.

In a continent often marked by political divisions and personal animosities, the Ruto-Kenyatta reconciliation provides a model for how leaders can transcend past differences in service of greater national and regional interests.