Shoe thrown at Kenya’s President Ruto during rally

Kenya’s President William Ruto was targeted by a shoe thrown at him during a speech on the cost of living, a topic that has fueled public anger. 

The incident took place on Sunday, May 4,  during a rally in Migori County, western Kenya. Videos shared on social media showed Ruto calmly blocking the shoe with his arm, with no apparent injury. He continued his address, asking the crowd, “We have said we are reducing the price of fertiliser, true or false?” as the shoe bounced off him, stirring up a small cloud of dust.

The public’s frustration has been mounting over tax hikes and the high cost of living, prompting Ruto to abandon some of his tax plans and include opposition members in his cabinet. Despite these efforts, discontent remains widespread. Following the incident, Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen confirmed that three people had been arrested in connection with the incident, according to The Star newspaper.

The incident evokes memories of the 2008 shoe-throwing protest against then-U.S. President George W. Bush by an Iraqi journalist, a symbolic act of protest against the aftermath of the U.S.-led invasion.

Watch the video below…