President William Ruto has laughed off the ever-growing list of nicknames Kenyans have given him, saying they might “kill him with names” if the trend continues.
Speaking in Lang’ata on Thursday, March 13 during his development tour of Nairobi, Ruto recalled how the public has continuously rebranded him, from “Hustler” to “Survivor”, then “Zakayo”, and “Kasongo”.
“You started with Hustler, then Survivor, moved to Zakayo, and now I hear you’ve reached Kasongo. How many more names will you add? Do you want my names to reach ten?” Ruto joked, drawing laughter from the crowd.
President Ruto: Si mtaniua na majina, Mlianza na Hustler, mkakuja Survivor, Zakayo sasa ni Kasongo. pic.twitter.com/fp2yulgwTX
— tv47ke (@Tv47Newske) March 13, 2025
His initial nickname, “Hustler,” was born from his humble beginnings as a chicken seller before rising to political prominence. When he defied the odds to win the 2022 presidential elections, many dubbed him “Survivor.” However, after his government introduced multiple taxes, he was nicknamed “Zakayo,” a reference to the biblical tax collector, Zacchaeus.
More recently, some Kenyans have started calling him “Kasongo,” implying that he does not listen to public concerns, and “Kaongo” for making unfulfilled promises. The latest alias, “El Chapo,” emerged after he directed Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja to look for a machine capable of making one million chapatis a day, a claim that sparked widespread ridicule.
Despite the jokes, Ruto maintains that his focus remains on development and economic transformation. His remarks in Lang’ata highlight the growing public sentiment toward his leadership, as Kenyans continue to express their views through humor and satire.
