President William Ruto has expressed amusement over the growing list of nicknames Kenyans have given him, joking that they might “kill him with names” if the trend continues.
Speaking in Lang’ata on the fourth day of his development tour in Nairobi, Ruto reflected on how the public has come up with various monikers for him over time.
He recalled being first referred to as a hustler due to his rise from humble beginnings as a chicken seller to the presidency. Later, following his election victory against significant opposition, the name survivor emerged.
However, after implementing tax measures that many Kenyans opposed, the public began calling him Zakayo, likening him to the biblical tax collector Zacchaeus. More recently, a new name—Kasongo—has surfaced, inspired by the song Kasongo by Orchestra Super Mazembe, which has been widely used in memes depicting economic frustrations.
Amused by the trend, Ruto asked the crowd, “My brothers and sisters of Nairobi, aren’t you going to kill me with names? You started with hustler, then survivor, then Zakayo, and now I hear Kasongo. How many more names will you add? Do you want them to reach ten?”
His lighthearted remarks come as Kenyans continue to express their sentiments on his leadership through satire and humor.