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Maajabu! Salala! Ruto’s reaction to rough Wundanyi road tickles Taita Taveta residents
26th September, 2026 06:44 PM
President William Ruto found himself on a bumpy ride during a visit to Taita Taveta County on September 26, 2026, leading to a lighthearted moment with local residents.
The Head of State arrived at Wumingu Technical and Vocational College in Wundanyi Constituency to lay the foundation stone for new student hostels, but the trip up the hill left an impression.
A quick tour of county road projects
Before addressing the road he had just driven on, President Ruto ran through the status of several major routes across Taita Taveta County.
He noted that the 57-kilometre Bura–Wundanyi–Mtomwagodi road had remained stalled for a decade, alongside other key connections like Taveta–Ilasit, Voi–Sagala, and Maungu–Kasigau.
However, his tone quickly shifted as he transitioned from regional road updates to his immediate journey up the mountain to the location they were at, expressing shock at the poor state of the road.
“Salala!” – An unexpected discovery
“Sasa maajabu!” Ruto declared, taking a brief pause as the crowd gathered around his vehicle. “Salala! Ndio nimeona barabara yenu bwana,” he exclaimed, drawing laughter and cheers from the onlookers.
The president admitted he had previously been assured that the road leading up to the institution was in good shape.
Travelling on the rough stretch personally gave him a firsthand look at what commuters experience daily on the steep terrain.
A lighthearted request
Taking the situation in stride, Ruto poked fun at political critics while engaging the crowd. “Nilikuwa naambiwa huku barabara iko sawa, ati ndio mnasema ati Ruto aondoke,” he joked, before asking directly: “Si hii barabara nitengeneze jameni?“
He then asked residents to give him thirty days to organise logistics, secure funding, and send a contractor to begin work on the road.
The brief exchange gave locals a direct commitment to their infrastructure while adding a memorable moment to the presidential visit.
