Nilikaza macho! Ruto on Rachel’s reaction as leaders joked about exes

President William Ruto on Monday amused mourners after narrating his wife Rachel’s reaction during a string of jokes by leaders about ex-girlfriends.

Speaking at the funeral of Ichung’wah’s father, Mzee Isaac Ichung’wah Ngugi, the Head of State said he noticed his wife’s gaze when the subject of exes came up during tributes.

He then said that he stared straight ahead to avoid answering any questions that would arise from the look.

The President, however, said the First Lady knows that he is an open man.

"Wakati maneno imesemekana ya exes, nikaona hawa wadosi wanaongea hapa kukawa na consultation kubwa na nikaona Rachel anajaribu kunitazama nikakaza macho tu nikaangalia mbele kwa sababu nikama alikuwa ananiuli na wewe uko na hii maneno. Lakini Rachel si unajua maneno yangu mimi huweka wazi," he said.

This loosely translates to, “When the words were said about the ex, I saw these people talking here and having big consultations, and I saw Rachel trying to look at me. I just stared straight ahead because I felt like she was asking me if I also had these things. But Rachel, you know I’m always open about my affairs.”

The President then turned to praise the deceased, describing him as a man of rare character.

He explained that very rarely would you find a man taking back their ex-girlfriend with eight children.

“Mzee was a good man. It is not easy for a man, a girlfriend you did not marry, who now has eight children and you get back together. It takes a man of exceptional credentials to be able to do that,” he said.

Ruto added that the late elder’s actions — including buying land, supporting his former partner, and working with her — showed the size of his heart.

“Ichung’wah, the old man was a great man. It tells you how big a heart Mzee had,” the President noted, drawing applause from mourners.

The jokes by leaders about exes were in reference to earlier remarks that Ichung’wah’s father married a former girlfriend as his third wife.

He also adopted the former girlfriend’s eight children and educated all of them.