Shoe thrown at Kenya’s President Ruto during rally
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Mr Ruto blocked the flying footwear with his arm and did not appear to be injured.
PHOTO: REUTERS
NAIROBI – Kenya’s President William Ruto fended off a shoe thrown at him during a speech about the cost of living, which has been a source of public anger, videos shared on social media showed.
Mr Ruto has been compelled to abandon tax hikes and invite opposition members into the Cabinet, but discontent remains high in the East African nation.
On May 4, at the rally in Migori county in western Kenya, Mr Ruto blocked the flying footwear with his arm and did not appear to be injured, according to three videos.
“We have said we are reducing the price of fertiliser, true or false?” he said as the shoe bounced off him, kicking up a small cloud of dust.
Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen said police had arrested three people, The Star newspaper reported.
In 2008, then US President George W. Bush famously had a shoe thrown at him by an Iraqi journalist in protest at the chaos following the Us-led invasion. REUTERS