Migori shoe incident reflects Kenyans' growing frustration

President William Ruto received by a mammoth crowd in Rongo town, Migori County on May 5, 2025. [Anne Atieno, Standard]

I stand with Kenyans of goodwill in condemning the unfortunate act of throwing a shoe at President William Ruto in Migori on May 4, 2025. If the shoe was deliberately aimed at him, this is a clear sign of political intolerance that must be rejected.

Am I defending the President? No. Like many other Kenyans who shared the hope that he would stay faithful to his 2022 campaign promises, I am disappointed. At the time, he said that reducing the cost of living would be simple, arguing that Kenyans' hardships were artificial and resulted from poor leadership. So, many Kenyans trusted that his leadership would bring relief.