Residents walk along the Kasikeu bridge, November 12, 2025. /PCSIn a light-hearted encounter that left many in stitches, a resident of Kasikeu in Makueni county left President William Ruto’s entourage amused after claiming she had never seen the head of state before.
The incident happened on Wednesday when the President took a brief walk along the road after commissioning the Kasikeu and Mikuyuni Bridges and their approach roads.
As he greeted locals, Ruto struck up a conversation with a middle-aged woman who appeared curious about the interest the crowd had in the President.
“Habari yako? Unaitwa nani? (How are you? What’s your name?” Ruto asked, extending his hand for a handshake.
“Rosemary,” she replied simply.
President William Ruto with a resident of Kasikeu, Makueni county, November 12, 2025. /SCREENGRABThe President then asked whether she was pleased with the new bridge, and she responded enthusiastically that she was.
Rosemary said that before the bridges were built, residents had struggled to access nearby areas, especially during the rainy season when flooding often cut off movement.
Ruto explained that his administration was prioritising infrastructure projects aimed at meeting citizens’ immediate needs, unlocking rural economic potential and promoting inclusive growth from the bottom up.
President William Ruto inspects a bridge in Kasikeu, Makueni county, November 12, 2025. /PCS
The woman agreed that the bridges would go a long way in solving the area’s perennial flooding problems.
“So nyumbani ni wapi hapa? (Where is your home?),” Ruto asked. She pointed uphill, saying her home was nearby.
“Sasa si ungetukaribishe twende utupange? (You should have invited us over),” Ruto joked, prompting laughter from his team and the locals.
“Hakuna shida, tutaenda (No problem, we shall go),” she replied with a grin.
Then came the moment that caught everyone off guard. Ruto asked whether she recognised any of the visitors with him, to which she said no.
“Na mimi? Mimi ni mgeni pia? (What about me? Am I also unfamiliar?),” he pressed playfully.
“Sijawahi kukuona (I have never seen you),” Rosemary said, sending the crowd into another round of laughter.
President William Ruto with a resident of Kasikeu, Makueni county, November 12, 2025. /SCREENGRABRuto took the exchange in stride, saying his government was determined to ensure every part of the country, including Makueni — which he noted had been left behind for too long — would benefit from development projects.
President William Ruto launches construction of the 20km Emali-Matiliku road in Makueni county, November 12, 2025. /PCSHe added that road works would be extended from Kasikeu to Chambete and Kigogo, areas the woman said were still problematic.
“Okay, okay, asante sana (Okay, thank you very much),” Ruto said as he wrapped up the cheerful exchange.
The President was on the first day of his Ukambani tour, where he launched and inspected several development projects in Makunei county.
They include the Emali–Ukia Road in Kibwezi West and the Wote Affordable Housing Project.
He later issued 2,140 title deeds to residents of Kasikeu, resolving long-standing land ownership disputes in the region.
President William Ruto issues title deeds in Kasikeu in Makueni county, November 12, 2025. /PCS
