Ruto dances to viral Kasongo song during New Year celebrations

Following his New Year's speech, the president, accompanied by First Lady Rachel Ruto, government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga sang the chorus of the popular song that has found a life of its own on the social media space with Kenyans coining the song to emulate the head of state. 

Kasongo is a name derived from a Rhumba song by the popular band Super Orchestra Mazembe whose lyrics revolve around a woman urging her husband, Kasongo, to return to their marriage. 

A section of Kenyans online corrupted the song to depict President Ruto in silhouette form as he engaged in activities synonymous with some of his unpopular policies. The silhouettes have since gained massive popularity online. 

Unlike the biblical Zakayo moniker which Ruto embraced, he had stayed away from commenting on the new nickname that has constantly been linked with his administration's errors. 

The Kasongo nickname came at a time when reports surfaced that the president's henchmen attempted to procure a Ksh.120 million software that would counter negative comments regarding the Kenya Kwanza administration. Those in the president's circle, however, dismissed reports linking them to the scheme.

The use of the online space has been a topic of debate within Ruto's administration since he took office. Recently, a section of Kenyans online has been caught in a wave of abductions for posting generative Artificial Intelligence images deemed offensive to the presidency. 

Human Rights groups revealed that over 82 cases of missing persons have been reported since June 2024 during the anti-government protests. In an attempt to restore public trust in national security, the president recently confirmed that he would end the abductions. 

"Na yale yamesemekana mambo ya abduction tutakomesha ndio vijana wa Kenya waweze kuishi kwa amani na vilevile wawe na nidhamu ili tuweze kujenga Kenya pamoja." Sic "And what has been said... abduction matters. We will stop. So that Kenyan youth can live in peace and have discipline so that we build Kenya together," Ruto said at the Raila Odinga Stadium on December 27, 2024.