Ruto's 2023 county tours: A look at gifts presented by hustlers

President William Ruto, even before coming to power was used to dishing out goodies to his supporters.

However, it has also become a common occurrence to see his supporters giving him gifts.

In his first year in leadership, President Ruto embarked on development tours in major parts of the country.

The tours were a double mix of giving thanks for voting for the Kenya Kwanza government and launching development projects.

With his interactions with leaders across the political divide and residents, the President in various instances never went back home empty-handed.

Kenyans and at times leaders gifted him with 'hustler' gifts as a way of welcoming him and saying thank you.

A bull in Homa Bay

In January, Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga gifted President Ruto a bull as he started his two-day tour of the Nyanza region.

After a warm welcome, Governor Wanga presented the President with the gift after he had briefly shared a jig with the Kagan Kochia traditional dancers.

The bull was sprayed in yellow words ‘President’s Gift’ on one side and ‘Vision Women’ on the other.

Still, in  Homa Bay, President Ruto was gifted a 200kg fish and  maize flour as he toured the county

"Your Excellency, because you have been kind and you have visited us, we have some gifts. Your Excellency, we have a 200kg fish, that is why we are talking about the introduction of processing in the area," Wanga said 

"Also, Your Excellency, Mokwa is the unga we are producing in Gwasi constituency Homa Bay County."

Holy Quran

The Muslim community had a special message for President William Ruto as he hosted his first Iftar dinner at State House on April 17, 2023.

On behalf of the Muslim community, Jamia Mosque Committee vice chairperson Abdulatif Essajee gifted Ruto a Quran.

While gifting him the holy book, Essajee told the President to read and be guided by the holy book.

“As a community, we shall gift you a translation of the holy Quran. I invite you humbly understand this book, contemplate on this book and InshAllah be guided by this book,” he said.

On his side, President Ruto assured the Muslim leaders of his support during his presidency.

He assured them that they were in the right place because the State House is a place that fears God.

"As a religious person, I take a lot of pride in associating with people who believe in God because I know the importance of fearing God," Ruto said.

Goat, maize and model State House

In August, President Ruto was accorded a warm reception on the first day of a working tour of the Mt Kenya region.

In a stop-over in Murang'a, Ruto was gifted a goat and maize by a resident as an appreciation.

He was in the Mt Kenya region for a five-day working tour, which started on August 5, 2023.

President William Ruto on was also gifted a State hHouse model by youths in Githurai, en-route to Murang'a.

In return, Ruto gave the artists Sh100,000.

The President was addressing residents when his speech was interrupted by youths carrying the model.

Ruto was compelled to recognise the resident who arrived at the rally displaying the piece of art. 

"I have seen the work you have done. Give them Sh100,000 in exchange for it," he said amid applause from the crowd. 

The model mirrored State House built inside a glass showcase, adorned with décor and manicured gardens.

The youths assisted the artist in handing over the model to the Head of State owing to its sheer size and stature.

There was also an artist who carried a portrait of President Ruto which also caught his attention.

The portrait showed President Ruto standing while giving a speech.

Bungoma portrait and a mwiko

During his tour in Bungoma in August, the Head of State was gifted a portrait of himself during a church service at Bungoma.

Kabuchai MP Majimbo Kalasinga while presenting the portrait, commended Ruto on the initiative he took to start the Hustler Fund.

"Mr President this is a product of the Hustler fund.  This young hustler is an artist and he has decided to gift you a product of the Hustler fund," he said.

An overwhelmed President walked at the podium to receive the gift which cost Sh2,000.

"We shall stand with you because of what you are doing through the Hustler Fund. Our youths are getting creative and earning as a result of it," he added.

On the same tour but in Vihiga county, the President was also gifted a giant cooking stick (mwiko).

Chicken and vegetables

Still, in his Western tour in August, President Ruto was all smiles after receiving gifts from Kakamega residents.

After presiding over the groundbreaking of the Kakamega Aggregation and Industrial Park in Likuyani, Ruto was caught off-guard when a group of residents came to the podium with chicken, bananas, sugarcane, vegetables and maize among other gifts.

He received the gifts and greeted them while the audience clapped.