A photo of First Lady Rachel Ruto and former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i on Monday, March 13, emerged online, hours after the latter's case was dropped by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).

A debate later ensued on whether a deal was being brokered between President William Ruto and the embattled CS.

However, The Statesman Digital established that the photo was taken on October 22, 2019, and not in 2023, as alleged.

The First Lady first posted the photo after she hosted Matiang'i for a meeting regarding projects undertaken by women prison.

At the time, Rachel was serving as the Second Lady.

"We would like to thank our CS, Dr Fred Matiang'i, Interior Cabinet Secretary, for the great support and visiting the Cross stitch International Exhibition at the Michael Joseph centre this morning.

"Together, we continue to support our ladies in prison and give them hope and dignity," the first lady stated. 

The reemergence of the photo on social media came hours after Matiang'i met Ruto's allies, including Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu.

Various reports intimated that in the meeting, Gusii leaders, intervened in the former CS's woes before Ruto toured the region.

Additionally, a number of Kenyans likened the meeting to reports that a number of leaders from the Gusii region were working on plans to reconcile the duo following their fallout post the 2018 handshake.