The Kenyan internet was set alight after a video emerged of a shoe being hurled at President William Ruto during his address in Migori County. Within minutes of the clip circulating online, creative Kenyans turned the moment into a meme goldmine, flooding platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok with puns, parodies, and reenactments.
Viral Moment Sparks Online Frenzy
The five-second clip captures the dramatic moment the dusty shoe struck President Ruto mid-speech, disrupting his address and triggering chaos among attendees. However, instead of focusing on the political implications, Kenyans turned the incident into a comedic spectacle, leveraging their renowned creativity to lighten the mood.
Witty wordplays dominated the conversation, with users crafting shoe-related puns that trended throughout the day. Popular X user Nyandia Gachago spearheaded the wave, posting:
“Na kutamatisha habari za leo, Zakayo lazima ashoe-ke!”
Another viral post read, “Migori people ni watu wa shoe-pavu sana!” while others chimed in with lines like, “Kwa huyo jamaa wa Migori, pokea shoe-krani zetu!”
Memes, Parodies, and Nostalgia
As the online community rallied around the incident, many expanded their humor to include references to Kenyan pop culture. Memes featured plays on phrases like “Shoe-d we care? No, we shoe-dint!” and “Dereva shoe-kisha!” Some drew parallels to popular songs, giving new life to hits like Uliza Kiatu and referencing the band Sol Generation.
Comedian Njugush’s parody video, where he hilariously depicts himself with one shoe before disappearing into the darkness, quickly went viral, amassing over 340,000 views and 15,000 likes in less than 24 hours.
Photoshopped images also gained traction, including one portraying President Ruto as a DJ, complete with headphones and turntables, captioned: “Young Ndullah Baby!”
Resurfaced Tweet Fuels Prophetic Claims
Adding to the frenzy, an old tweet by user @Ninanyce from November 2023 resurfaced, in which she joked about someone throwing a muddy shoe at the president. The tweet, rediscovered by users, prompted many to dub her a “Prophetess.”
Her post read:
“Need someone close to that podium to throw a shoe at that man. A very muddy shoe.”
Users like Book Ten reacted with, “Every tweet has a maturity date,” showcasing the uncanny relevance of the old post.
Mixed Reactions and Heated Debates
While many revelled in the humor, some voices on social media questioned the ethics of celebrating such an incident. Activist Hanifa Adan pushed back against critics, tweeting:
“Take note of everything they’re telling us not to celebrate, it’s exactly what we will celebrate!”
In another tweet, she wrote:
“The state doesn’t hold a monopoly on violence. They’ve ignored the cries of the people for years—what’s anarchy to those who’ve seen lives destroyed without justice?”
A Cultural Moment
As the dust settles, the shoe-throwing incident has become a defining cultural moment for Kenyans online, showcasing their unparalleled ability to turn even tense situations into opportunities for humor and collective commentary.
