Who is Kennedy Kaunda, man behind ‘with all due respect' viral meme

Chairperson and CEO of the East Africa Tour Guides and Drivers Association (EATGDA) Kennedy Kaunda/SCREENGRAB

Until Monday afternoon, few Kenyans outside the tourism and transport industry had heard of Kennedy Kaunda.

By evening, his name, voice, and now-famous phrase — “with all due respect” — had become one of the country’s biggest talking points online.

Kaunda, the CEO of the East Africa Tour Guides and Drivers Association (EATGDA), shot into the national spotlight during a tense press conference following high-level negotiations over the ongoing fuel price crisis and nationwide transport strike.

His firm rejection of government claims that progress had been made instantly resonated with frustrated Kenyans grappling with soaring fuel costs and rising living expenses.

The now-viral moment unfolded after a closed-door meeting convened by Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir. The meeting brought together senior government officials and transport sector stakeholders seeking a solution to mounting protests over fuel prices.

During a joint press briefing after nearly five hours of discussions, Wandayi suggested that the talks had yielded progress, particularly on concerns surrounding fuel adulteration caused by the widening price gap between diesel and kerosene.

However, before the briefing could conclude, transport sector representatives interrupted the government’s narrative, insisting that no agreement had been reached.

Standing before cameras, Kaunda calmly but firmly contradicted the Cabinet Secretaries.

“With all due respect, we respect everyone here; we did not come to set anybody up. We are law-abiding citizens. So there’s no deal. The strike is still on,” he declared.

The statement immediately changed the tone of the briefing.

Television cameras captured an awkward silence as Wandayi and Chirchir stood staring ahead while Kaunda addressed the nation directly. Many viewers interpreted the moment as an unusually bold public challenge to senior government officials.

Within minutes, clips of the exchange flooded social media platforms, with Kenyans praising Kaunda for what they described as honesty, courage, and clarity during a highly sensitive national conversation.

The phrase “with all due respect” quickly evolved into a viral catchphrase, spawning memes, remixes, and commentary across Kenyan social media.

What especially resonated with Kenyans was his insistence that the transport sector’s concerns had not been adequately addressed.

According to Kaunda, stakeholders had pushed for diesel price reductions of between Sh30 and Sh35 per litre, arguing that anything less would fail to ease pressure on operators and consumers. The government, however, had reportedly proposed a significantly lower reduction of about Sh10 through consultations with the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA).

Kaunda later explained that transport stakeholders had understood the discussions to be preliminary and subject to further consultations before any public announcement could be made.

He said he was surprised when officials appeared to present the talks as having resulted in a breakthrough deal.

“That is what forced me to speak,” he explained after the meeting. “There was an impression being created that everything had been resolved yet discussions were still ongoing.”

Although many online initially assumed Kaunda was part of the matatu sector leadership, he actually represents a different branch of the wider transport industry.

Kaunda's East Africa Tour Guides and Drivers Association (EATGDA) is a professional and non-political association that unites practicing tour guides, naturalists, and driver-guides across Kenya and the broader East African region.

The organisation advocates for professional standards, certification, and welfare improvements for drivers and guides operating within the tourism sector. It also works closely with institutions such as the Kenya Wildlife Service and the Tourism Regulatory Authority to improve recognition and working conditions within the industry.

While not directly affiliated with matatu leadership groups such as the Matatu Owners Association, Kaunda attended the negotiations because tour operators and tourism transport providers have also been heavily affected by fuel price increases.

His intervention, many observers noted, helped clarify that negotiations between the government and transport stakeholders remained unresolved.

The public response was swift and overwhelmingly supportive.

Across social media, Kenyans described him as fearless, composed, and unapologetically direct. Others applauded him for “standing on business” and refusing to allow what they perceived as a misleading narrative to go unchallenged.

By Tuesday morning, users had begun sharing older video clips of Kaunda from previous industry meetings and press conferences, with many remarking that his confidence and communication style were consistent long before his sudden rise to national attention.

Some online users humorously suggested that Kaunda had become “the new voice of wananchi,” while others turned his “with all due respect” line into a symbol of speaking truth to power respectfully but firmly.

His remarks struck a deeper chord because they echoed the frustrations of ordinary Kenyans struggling with the realities of rising costs.

What began as a routine press briefing ultimately transformed an obscure tourism sector official into one of the country’s most talked-about personalities overnight- all because of four words delivered “with all due respect.”