President William Ruto’s visit to Kibera on Friday, May 23, was marked by a dramatic moment that has since gone viral on social media. A woman in the crowd appeared to pull the President in an unexpected move that shocked many and raised questions about his security.
The incident happened as Ruto was arriving at a public event in the Kibera slums, where a large number of residents had gathered to welcome him.
The video footage shows President Ruto walking through the crowd, surrounded by his security team and Lang’ata Member of Parliament Phelix Odiwuor, popularly known as Jalang’o.
As they made their way to the event area, a woman stepped forward to greet the President. Ruto extended his hand towards her, as he often does during such interactions. But instead of a quick handshake, the woman grabbed his hand firmly and appeared to pull him toward her.
The President momentarily lost his balance, clearly caught off guard by the unexpected gesture. A bodyguard quickly stepped in, trying to push the woman away to protect the President.
In that tense second, Ruto managed to steady himself by placing his hand on MP Jalang’o’s back. The body language of those around him showed a mix of surprise and alertness, but the President managed to keep his cool.
Rather than reacting harshly, he smiled and calmly invited the woman for another handshake. His bodyguard then gently guided her back into the crowd.The event in Kibera was part of Ruto’s ongoing tour to promote the affordable housing initiative, one of the key programs in his administration.
Speaking after the incident, the President continued with his address without any visible signs of discomfort. He focused on his promise to uplift the living conditions of Kibera residents through structured development projects.
He mentioned the progress already made through the Kibera Soweto Affordable Housing Project, which has 4,600 housing units completed.Ruto said the project would be expanded to include 25,000 new housing units.
He also revealed that over 11,000 residents who have already registered under the program would be among the first to receive homes in the new phase.
He stressed that his government was committed to transforming Kibera from a crowded informal settlement into a well-planned residential area with decent living standards.
Despite the unexpected incident with the woman, the President’s visit continued as planned. His ability to remain calm and even return the handshake sent a message of confidence and control. The moment may have been tense, but it didn’t stop him from pushing forward his agenda.
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