Ruto Responds to ‘El Chapo’ Nickname Given by Kenyans

President William Ruto, on Thursday, March 13, addressed the growing trend of Kenyans assigning him various nicknames, including the most recent one, “El Chapo.”

Speaking during his development tour in Dagoretti, Nairobi, Ruto humorously questioned whether the trend would ever end, given the many names he has already been given.

During his speech, the President listed some of the nicknames Kenyans have associated with him over time, including “Hustler,” “Survivor,” “Zakayo,” and “Kasongo.” He noted that these names had not only trended across the country but had also been incorporated into chants and even songs by some Kenyans.

“To my people in Nairobi, tell me, will you ever stop with these names? You started by calling me Hustler, then you moved to Survivor. After that, you called me Zakayo, and later Kasongo,” Ruto remarked, laughing as he engaged the crowd.

“With all these names, how many more do you plan to add? Will you come up with another one, or have you given me enough?” the President jokingly asked, enjoying the moment as the audience responded enthusiastically.

How the ‘El Chapo’ Nickname Emerged

The latest nickname, “El Chapo,” emerged this week after Ruto pledged to donate a high-capacity chapati-making machine to a Nairobi school.

The machine, which can produce up to one million chapatis per day, was requested by Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja to support the “Dishi na County” school feeding program at St. Teresa Girls Secondary School in Mathare.

Following Ruto’s pledge, Kenyans quickly took to social media, making memes and using artificial intelligence to create humorous images depicting millions of chapatis being produced in a factory. nickname “El Chapo,” which playfully combines “Chapati” and the infamous Mexican drug lord’s name, was widely shared as a way for Kenyans to make light of the situation.

Public Reactions and Criticism

While the nickname appeared to be in jest, it also reflected deeper frustrations among Kenyans. Many critics accused Ruto of celebrating what they saw as minor or trivial achievements while the country continues to struggle with serious economic challenges, high living costs, and developmental setbacks.

Social media users pointed out that leaders in other countries, such as China and Japan, focus on launching large-scale infrastructure projects that bring significant transformation, while Kenya seems to celebrate initiatives that do not have a meaningful impact on national development.

Many Kenyans questioned whether such projects should be considered major milestones, with some expressing disappointment in the government’s priorities.

Ruto’s Take on the Nicknames

This is not the first time President Ruto has spoken out about the names Kenyans have given him. In the past, he addressed the nicknames “Zakayo” and “Kasongo,” indicating that he was no longer affected by them.

He acknowledged that some critics had labeled him “Kasongo” due to what he described as his intelligence and strategic leadership.

According to him, as long as he fulfills his role as the Head of State and delivers on his promises to the people, he is not bothered by the names Kenyans choose to call him.

Despite the jokes and criticism, Ruto maintains that he is committed to serving the nation and implementing development projects that will benefit Kenyans in the long run.

However, with Kenyans’ creativity and love for satire, it remains to be seen whether this will be the last nickname the President receives.

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