Ruto Responds to Kenyans Mocking Him with ‘Kasongo’ and ‘Zakayo’ Nicknames
President William Ruto has fired back at Kenyans who have been mocking him by calling him names such as “Kasongo” and “Zakayo.”
Speaking during a development tour in Busia County, Western Kenya, on Friday, January 24, the president addressed the nicknames, making it clear that he was fully aware of them but no longer bothered by the criticism.
Ruto acknowledged the two titles, saying that some of his critics had taken to calling him “Kasongo” because of what he described as his exceptional intelligence.
He stated that he had come to accept the labels, as his focus remains on delivering the promises he made to Kenyans during his election campaign.
“You all know that I have surpassed many of these people in terms of intelligence, and that’s why they’ve decided to come up with names like Kasongo,”
Ruto remarked. “Whether they call me Kasongo or Zakayo, it doesn’t matter to me as long as the government is doing its work and fulfilling its purpose,” he added.
The president’s humorous take on the “Kasongo” nickname amused the crowd, sparking laughter among the Busia residents.
The moniker “Kasongo” has become increasingly popular among Kenyans, particularly on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and Facebook.
The term is derived from the iconic song Kasongo by the band Super Mazembe, which was a hit in the mid-1970s.
The song tells the story of a woman pleading with her estranged husband to return home, and it regained popularity in Kenya between November 2024 and January 2025. Since then, Kenyans have been using the name to refer to the president in various contexts.
The nickname “Zakayo” has also been widely used, a reference many Kenyans associate with the Biblical figure Zacchaeus, a tax collector.
Some critics have linked the term to Ruto’s government due to its focus on strengthening the country’s tax system.
This isn’t the first time Ruto has addressed the nicknames. On January 3, while attending a burial in Bungoma County, the president spoke about the same issue.
He stated that he didn’t mind being called “Kasongo” or “Zakayo,” explaining that he viewed the song Kasongo as a good piece of music and believed the nickname “Zakayo” symbolized the progress the country was making under his administration’s tax reforms.
By embracing the humor behind the nicknames, Ruto has managed to turn the situation into a lighthearted moment, maintaining his focus on governance while engaging with the public’s sentiments.
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