Shoe thrown at President Ruto sparks outrage, debate in Kenya

The Kenyan government has condemned as “shameful” an incident in which a shoe was thrown at President William Ruto during a public rally on Sunday. Widely circulated video clips show the shoe striking the president’s raised left arm as he addressed a crowd.

Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura strongly criticised the act, calling for the perpetrators to be “apprehended.” In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he questioned the message such behavior sends: “What would happen if we all decided to throw shoes at each other? What values are we teaching our children?” He also emphasized the need to respect the presidency.

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Local media reports indicate that three people have been arrested in connection with the incident, though police have not yet confirmed the detentions. Several members of parliament have also expressed concern, labeling the act a serious breach of security.

Dennis Itumbi, a senior official in the president’s office, downplayed the incident as an accident. On Facebook, he posted footage from another angle, showing a person lifting a shoe “in jest, pretending to be a camera,” before another individual slapped it away in frustration, causing the shoe to fly toward the president.

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President Ruto had been speaking in Migori County during a three-day development tour of the western region. While many Kenyans have criticized the shoe-throwing as disrespectful, others argue it reflects growing public dissatisfaction with economic hardships and rising taxes.

The official video of the event, shared by the president’s office on social media, omits the shoe-throwing incident. Although brief commotion is visible in the crowd, the footage cuts away shortly afterward. At one point,  Ruto can be heard instructing his security team not to pursue anyone in the audience.

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MP Nelson Koech, a member of Ruto’s party, described the act as “an affront to our democracy,” warning of its dangerous implications. “You can imagine if that shoe were a bullet,” he told Citizen TV, adding that the nation must ensure the safety of its head of state.

Migori is known as a political stronghold of opposition leader Raila Odinga, who ran against Ruto in the 2022 elections. However, Odinga and Ruto have recently signed a political agreement aimed at easing national tensions following last year’s deadly anti-tax protests.

Since taking office in 2022, President Ruto has faced mounting pressure from citizens over the rising cost of living and increased taxation.