US President Barack Obama was at State House, Nairobi on Saturday for bilateral meetings talk attended by Kenya’s Deputy President William Ruto.

The US President shook hands with Mr Ruto after inspecting a guard of honour.

This is the first time Mr Ruto and Mr Obama met face to face since he arrived in Kenya on Friday.

President Uhuru Kenyatta led the Kenyan delegation during the talks.

Mr Ruto was not at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Friday when Mr Obama arrived and was received by President Kenyatta.

US President Barack Obama meets Kenya’s First Lady Margaret Kenyatta at State House, Nairobi on July 25, 2015. PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

He was also not present at the opening of the Global Entrepreneurship Summit at Gigiri Saturday morning.

At State House, Mr Ruto sat next to President Kenyatta and opposite the US president and his delegation.

Mr Ruto’s role during the visit has been surrounded by speculation and debate since he is facing crimes against humanity charges at the International Criminal Court.

US President Barack Obama inspects a guard of honour at State House, Nairobi on July 25, 2015. PHOTO | PSCU

President Kenyatta at a press conference early this week said “As far as I am concerned the President of the US is coming to attend the Global Entrepreneurship Summit. He is coming to meet the government of Kenya and that includes the Deputy President.

“The last time I checked, the Deputy President was still part of this government,” Mr Kenyatta said.

On Wednesday, US National Security Adviser Susan Rice said Mr Obama has “no plans for any separate engagements” with Mr Ruto.

This means that the deputy president will only meet the US leader at public events where government officials have been invited.

“He is a member of the government and so will be present at some of the events,” she added in regard to Mr Ruto.