The Kenyan government has strongly condemned an incident in which a shoe was thrown at President William Ruto during a public address in Migori County, western Kenya. The event took place on Sunday as part of the president’s three-day development tour in the region.
Widely circulated video footage on social media captured the moment the shoe struck President Ruto’s raised arm while he was speaking to a large crowd. Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura labelled the act as “shameful” and called for those responsible to be apprehended, emphasizing the importance of respecting the institution of the presidency. “What would happen if we all decided to throw shoes at each other? What values are we teaching our children?” Mwaura posted on X (formerly Twitter), highlighting the broader implications of such actions.
Though unconfirmed by police, reports from local media indicate that three individuals have been arrested in connection with the incident. The act has sparked widespread condemnation, including from Members of Parliament who described it as a serious security breach and an insult to national dignity.
Dennis Itumbi, a senior official in the president’s office, attempted to downplay the situation by sharing an alternative video angle on Facebook. He claimed the shoe was initially raised “in jest” as a mock camera before being slapped away by another person, which caused it to accidentally fly toward the president.
President Ruto, who remained composed, was heard instructing his security team not to harass members of the crowd. In the official footage later shared on the president’s X account, the shoe-throwing moment is absent, but brief commotion in the crowd can be observed before the video cuts and resumes with other speakers at the event.
Migori County, where the incident occurred, is traditionally a stronghold of opposition leader Raila Odinga. Though once fierce rivals, Odinga and Ruto reached a political understanding in March 2024 aimed at easing tensions following a series of nationwide anti-tax protests in 2023 that turned deadly.
The shoe-hurling incident comes at a time of increasing concern for the security of public officials in Kenya. Just days earlier, a Member of Parliament was gunned down in Nairobi in a suspected assassination, adding to growing fears over political violence.
President Ruto, who came to power in 2022, continues to face criticism and sporadic protests over soaring living costs and unpopular tax hikes. While many Kenyans view the shoe-throwing as disrespectful and dangerous, others see it as an expression of deep public frustration with the current economic situation.
Nelson Koech, an MP from Ruto’s party, warned that the incident, though seemingly minor, should be taken seriously. Speaking on Citizen TV, he said, “You can imagine if that shoe was a bullet… this is an affront to our democracy. We must secure the head of state.”
The event has sparked a national conversation on the balance between political expression and public order, and renewed calls for enhanced protection for the country’s leaders.
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