MPs briefly interrupt Ruto’s State of the Nation address with ‘Tutam’ chants
Members of Parliament (MPs) on Thursday, November 20, 2025, briefly interrupted President William Ruto as he made his State of the Nation Address in a joint house sitting.
This is after they erupted into ‘Tutam’ chants as the head of state listed some of the infrastructural projects his government has earmarked for consideration.
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The lawmakers stood in the house waving two fingers in the air as they shouted ‘Tutam’, an indication that Ruto will go for another term of presidency during the upcoming 2027 general elections.
Ruto had just said that he is set to launch the dualling of the 170-kilometre Rironi–Naivasha–Nakuru–Mau Summit road and break ground on the dualling of the 58-kilometre Rironi–Maai Mahiu–Naivasha road.
Roads earmarked for dualling
He also went ahead to list some of the other roads earmarked for dualling.
“Next week, I will launch the dualling of the 170-kilometre Rironi–Naivasha–Nakuru–Mau Summit road. On the same day, we will break ground on the dualling of the 58-kilometre Rironi–Maai Mahiu–Naivasha road. The gridlock that paralyses these roads every day—especially on weekends and holidays—will soon be history,” Ruto said.
“Additional roads earmarked for dualing include Muthaiga–Kiambu–Ndumberi, Machakos Junction–Mariakani, Mau Summit–Kericho–Kisumu, Kisumu–Busia, Mau Summit–Eldoret–Malaba, Athi River–Namanga, Karatina–Nanyuki–Isiolo, Makutano–Embu–Meru–Maua, Mtwapa–Malindi, Mombasa–Lunga Lunga, Kericho–Kisii–Migori–Isebania, Nakuru–Nyahururu–Karatina, Kisii–Oyugis–Ahero, the Northern Bypass, James Gichuru Road, Bomas–Karen–Ngong, Bomas–Ongata Rongai–Kiserian, Ngong–Isinya, and Naivasha–Kikuyu, among many other key corridors nationwide.”
SGR extension to Kisumu
The lawmakers started the chants when Ruto mentioned the extension of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from Naivasha to Kisumu.
“This infrastructure drive will also include extending the Standard Gauge Railway from Naivasha to Kisumu and eventually to Malaba beginning in January 2026,” Ruto said.
“Honourable Members, estimates indicate that achieving these four priorities will require at least KSh 5 trillion. This is undeniably a large sum. Some may see it as unrealistic, even audacious, for a country like ours.”
