Fury over flying shoe! Passaris tears into attacker who targeted Ruto
By Martin Oduor, May 5, 2025The political stage was rocked on Sunday, May 4, 2025, when President William Ruto narrowly dodged a shoe thrown at him during a public rally – an act that has sparked a national outcry and drawn harsh rebuke from Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris.
The dramatic incident occurred in Kuria West, Migori County, as Ruto addressed a crowd while launching a series of development projects.
Just as he was emphasising his government’s efforts to lower the cost of living, an airborne shoe flew from the audience and struck the president’s upper body.
“Tupunguze gharama ya—” Ruto was heard saying before instinctively shielding himself as the shoe hit.
While the President maintained his composure, pausing only briefly before resuming his speech, footage of the bizarre moment exploded online, igniting fierce debate over political conduct and public respect.
But Passaris wasn’t mincing words.
“Throwing a shoe at the President is not protest, it’s provocation. I strongly condemn the unfortunate incident in Migori,” Passaris posted in a late-night message.
Labelling the stunt as both disrespectful and dangerous, the Nairobi lawmaker insisted that such theatrics threaten to distract from meaningful political discourse and unity.
“This disgraceful act by a lone agitator does not reflect the values or aspirations of Kenyans. Let us not allow such distractions to derail our focus as a resilient nation, led by a President who remains committed and undeterred in his service to the people. We must rise above hate and thrive through peace,” Passaris added.
The shoe-throwing incident comes at a time of heightened political tensions, with Ruto touring opposition strongholds to drum up support for his economic agenda.
His Migori visit included stops in Suna East for an interfaith prayer service and in Suna West, where he commissioned the Piny Oyie Technical Training Institute and opened sub-county offices.
But what began as a routine political tour turned into a security incident now under active investigation.
Sources within the Kuria West police confirmed the arrest of three individuals in connection with the attack.
According to a security officer quoted by the media on condition of anonymity, authorities suspect the act may have been politically orchestrated, possibly intended to embarrass the head of state during his visit.
No injuries were reported, and the President concluded his engagements without further incident.
Nonetheless, the symbolism of the act, flinging a shoe at a sitting president, has not been lost on the public or politicians.
For Passaris, it’s a moment that demands national reflection, not just outrage.
As the country awaits the outcome of police investigations, one thing is clear: the political theatre just took an unexpected and unwelcome turn.