In Kenyan politics, timing is everything, and President William Ruto appears to have mastered the art of delivering crowd-pleasing moments at just the right time. His latest speech during a tour of the North Eastern region has sparked a viral meme, reminiscent of a similar tactic he used to endear himself to the Mt. Kenya electorate during the 2022 elections.
It all started when former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, during the opening of the Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) headquarters on January 28, recounted Ruto’s uncanny ability to memorize local road networks and markets. Gachagua humorously narrated how Ruto had impressed Mt. Kenya residents by fluently naming their roads, leaving the crowd in awe and easily winning their support. “Hakuna barabara hajui kwa jina. Hakuna soko hajui kwa jina,” Gachagua said, recalling how locals reacted with amazement.
Fast forward to Ruto’s recent visit to North Eastern Kenya, and the same script played out, only this time, it transformed into an internet sensation. While addressing a gathering under the scorching Isiolo sun, Ruto listed an intricate web of roads connecting the region:
“Ndio barabara itoke Mandera, ikuje Ramu, ikuje Garre, ikuje El-Wak, ikuje Kobo, ikuje pale Kotulo, ikuje Tarbat, ipitie hapa Wajir, iende Samatan, iteremke Modogashe, ifike Isiolo, iende Nairobi…”
The video clip quickly spread across social media, with Kenyans creatively remixing and parodying Ruto’s speech. TikTok users, in particular, turned the phrase into a viral trend, with some writing down the names of the towns like a school lesson and others choreographing dances to match Ruto’s rhythmic delivery. One of the most popular videos, by TikToker Freddie Carlo Comedian, racked up 1.6 million views and 140,000 likes in just two days. Another comedian, Mokaya, created a skit about Ruto memorizing roads before addressing crowds, attracting nearly 2 million views.
Kenyans, known for their humor, have also printed t-shirts with the now-iconic road sequence. The meme has further fueled political discourse, with many pointing out how Ruto has perfected the skill of connecting with voters by demonstrating hyper-local knowledge.
Even Gachagua, while recounting Ruto’s tactics, admitted, “This man conned a community… If you fall for him, you will cry just like the people of the Mountain.”
Whether a political strategy or a masterstroke of public relations, Ruto’s road-naming antics continue to entertain and engage Kenyans in ways few politicians can.
