Kenya’s President William Ruto’s goal was to wear shoes in his speech, which caused public anger.
The incident took place at a rally in Migoli County, western Kenya on Sunday, May 4. Video shared on social media shows Ruto calmly blocking his shoes with his arms without noticeable damage. He continued to speak, asking the crowd: “We say we are lowering the price of fertilizer, right or wrong?” As the shoes bounced off him, a small cloud of dust stirred up.
Public frustration has been intensifying over tax rate hikes and high cost of living, prompting Ruto to abandon some of his tax plans and include opposition members in his cabinet. Despite these efforts, dissatisfaction remains widespread. After the incident, Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen confirmed that the three were arrested for the incident.
The incident evoked memories of Iraqi journalists’ 2008 shoe-push protests by then-U.S. President George W. Bush, a symbolic act of protest against the post-invasion protests by the U.S.-led.
Watch the video below…
