Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has found himself in an awkward position during a leaders’ consultative meeting at Irunduni in Meru County after a youth leader unexpectedly led the crowd in a protest chant mocking President William Ruto.
The incident, which has since gone viral, unfolded during what was expected to be a routine public engagement between national and county leaders. As is customary, the Deputy President invited local representatives to address the gathering before delivering his closing remarks.
In the widely circulated video, Kindiki is seen calling on a young man to speak. “Wacha tumusikie kijana,” he says, inviting the youth leader to the podium. The young man steps forward confidently, engaging the audience with energetic Gen Z-style call-and-response phrases.
“Gen Z eeh!” he shouted with the crowd jubilantly responding. Then came the unexpected twist.
The youth leader broke into the now-popular protest chant: “Yote yawezekana bila…” (Everything is possible without...), prompting the crowd to loudly complete the phrase with “Bila Kasongo,” a coded nickname believed to mock President Ruto.
@lightcasttvkenya "Yote yawezekana bila...Kasongo!"~DP Kindiki embarrassed badly by Meru Gen Zs at his home in Tharaka Nithi.
♬ original sound - Lightcast TV Kenya
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A visibly uncomfortable Kindiki is seen attempting to signal the youth to stop, but the chant had already picked up momentum. In a more brazen move, the young man handed the chant to someone in the crowd, who again shouted “Kasongo,” affirming the anti-government sentiment brewing in the ground.
The youth then calmly introduced himself: “Your Excellency, mimi ni kiongozi wa vijana kutoka Meru,” drawing even more attention to the boldness of the act.
The moment sparked widespread online reactions, with many praising the young man’s courage while others expressed concern over growing public disrespect toward national leaders.
The incident comes amid mounting political tension and economic dissatisfaction in the country, with Gen Z youth at the forefront of a new wave of civic activism. Social media users were quick to interpret the chant as a powerful symbol of youth discontent, especially as the country edges closer to the 2027 general elections.
For Kindiki, the event, which was meant to solidify government support at the grassroots, ended on a sour note, with many questioning the administration’s grip on youth sentiment in the regions.