No stranger to danger: 5 shocking attacks Ruto has survived on his way to the top
By Martin Oduor, May 5, 2025In the high-stakes arena of Kenyan politics, few have endured the political storms and literal flying objects like President William Samoei Ruto.
Rising from humble beginnings to the highest office in the land, Ruto’s career has been anything but smooth, punctuated by vitriolic opposition, courtroom drama, and, as history records, moments where his very life hung in the balance.
From stoning mobs to airborne shoes, here are five of the most jarring public attacks President Ruto has endured – incidents that underscore the deeply polarised political landscape in which he has built his career.
South Mugirango, Kisii — the bloodied knees of 2007
It was September 2007, deep into the campaign season, when then-ODM leaders William Ruto, Omingo Magara, and Charles Bichage arrived uninvited at a youth fundraiser presided over by PNU heavyweight Simeon Nyachae.
Held in Magara’s South Mugirango constituency at Nyamarambe playgrounds, the event turned chaotic when hired goons, linked to the infamous Chinkororo militia, violently disrupted their entry.
Stones flew, tempers flared, and Ruto was injured – a now-famous photo showing him bloodied and with a torn trouser leg has resurfaced often during the country’s most tense political seasons.
The incident marked an early warning of how treacherous the terrain would be for the man who would later defy the odds to become president.
Busia County – ODM stronghold (October 2021)
While on a tour of Busia in October 2021, then–Deputy President Ruto’s convoy was met with hostility from groups of young men who blocked roads and began pelting his motorcade with stones.
What was meant to be a rally to drum up support in the Western region turned into a security nightmare.
Eight suspects were arrested in connection with the violence.
Though unharmed, Ruto cut short his engagements and called for peace.
The attack exposed the raw nerves his presence triggered in regions politically loyal to his rivals.
Busia is an ODM stronghold, and since Ruto was running against the region’s favourite Raila, he encountered strong headwinds in his campaigns.
Kondele, Kisumu – rockstorm of Raila country (November 2021)
Kondele in Kisumu County, a stronghold of his then chief political rival, Raila Odinga, had always been a challenging stop for Ruto.
During a campaign visit in Kondele in November 2021, it boiled over.
As Ruto addressed the crowd, rocks rained from multiple directions, forcing his security detail to shield him and retreat.
The air was thick with hostility.
Police intervened with tear gas to disperse the agitators.
Ruto, unfazed, condemned the attack and carried on with his schedule – but not without the unmistakable message that in some regions, political symbols still outweigh the politics of engagement.
Bonchari, Kisii — ODM vs UDA showdown (October 2021)
The Suneka area of Bonchari erupted in October 2021 during a by-election campaign visit by Ruto.
Clashes between Ruto’s supporters and those allied to ODM devolved into street skirmishes.
Witnesses reported running battles involving stones, clubs, and injuries.
Ruto blamed deep state interference while his allies pointed fingers at police bias.
The clash laid bare the tribal and party-political friction that continues to mar elections in parts of Kenya.
Migori – the flying shoe of 2025
Most recently, on May 4, 2025, while addressing a crowd in Kuria West, Migori County, President Ruto faced perhaps the most bizarre and viral attack of his presidency.
Mid-speech, a shoe sailed through the air and struck the President’s upper body.
“Tupunguze gharama ya—” he was heard saying before instinctively shielding himself.
The president paused, adjusted, and continued speaking.
Three suspects were later arrested.
Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris labelled the act a provocation, not a protest.
The footage sparked fierce online debate about political civility and public respect for leadership.
From target to triumph
From bruised knees in Kisii to a shoe in Migori, Ruto’s path has been defined not just by policy battles but by physical threats that would deter even the most hardened of politicians.
That Ruto has emerged at the apex of Kenyan leadership speaks volumes about his resilience and the danger-laced road to State House.
Still, each incident is a stark reminder: in Kenya’s combustible political theatre, rhetoric isn’t the only thing that flies.