The Kenyan government has strongly condemned an incident in which a shoe was thrown at President William Ruto during a public rally in Migori County on Sunday, describing the act as “shameful” and a threat to national dignity.
Footage of the event, widely shared on social media, shows the shoe hitting the president’s left arm as he addressed a crowd during his three-day development tour of western Kenya. Despite the disruption, President Ruto remained composed and continued his speech, urging his security detail not to pursue anyone in the crowd.
Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura denounced the incident as a symbol of rising disrespect toward national institutions. “What would happen if we all decided to throw shoes at each other? What values are we teaching our children?” he wrote on X, calling for the arrest of those involved.
Local media reports indicate that three individuals have been arrested in connection with the act, though police have not confirmed the details. Some lawmakers described the incident as a serious security lapse and warned against the increasing hostility towards public officials.
The rally took place in Migori County, a region considered a political base of opposition leader Raila Odinga. While tensions have eased following a March 2025 political truce between Odinga and Ruto after deadly anti-tax protests, the incident has revived concerns over political volatility.
Public reactions have been mixed. While many Kenyans criticized the act as disrespectful and dangerous, others saw it as a reflection of growing frustration over economic hardship and tax hikes under Ruto’s administration.
Ruling party MP Nelson Koech expressed alarm, saying the situation must not be taken lightly. “You can imagine if that shoe was a bullet… we’ve taken this joke too far,” he said in an interview with Citizen TV.
The incident comes amid heightened political tension following the recent assassination of an opposition MP in Nairobi. Government officials stress that safeguarding national leaders and democratic institutions remains a top priority as Kenya faces ongoing economic and political challenges.
Nzubechukwu Eze.
