President William Ruto has for the first time publicly commented on the name Kasongo, a name that has recently been used by some to refer to him.
Addressing a burial service on Friday in Bungoma, Ruto, who was addressing criticism he has received recently said he had no qualms with the nicknames used by Kenyans to refer to him.
“Hio Kasongo ni sawa. Ni wimbo mzuri sana ambayo ilikuwa inaendelea, so hio Kasongo tuendelee nayo (That Kasongo song is fine, it’s a very good song, so let’s keep playing it),” he said.
Ruto also addressed the nickname “Zakayo” (Zaccheus), describing it as fitting, given his administration’s focus on tax collection to ensure Kenya’s development.
“Ile ya Zakayo pia si mbaya kwa sababu ya kukusanya ushuru ya kuendeleza Kenya si mbaya na kwanza Zakayo ndiye Mungu alimtembelea. Sasa wewe hujakuwa Zakayo utatembelewa na Mungu namna gani?” he said.
This was loosely translated as, “That Zakayo name is not bad either because collecting taxes to develop Kenya is not bad, and Jesus visited Zakayo. Now, if you are not Zakayo, how will Jesus visit you?”
Ruto made the comments during the burial of National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula’s mother in Bungoma County.
His remarks follow a recent event where he danced to the Kasongo song during the New Year’s Eve dinner at Kisii State Lodge.
The song has gained popularity on social media, with many online users using it to refer to his administration.
Originally performed by Super Mazembe, the track is experiencing a resurgence in Kenya, where it has become linked to social and political commentary.
The song was written by the iconic Alley Katele, who also provided the lead vocals.
It tells the story of a woman pleading for her estranged husband to return home.
Recently, Kenyan social media users have reinterpreted the classic, adding satirical lyrics that target the country’s political leadership.
