Embu youth shut down William with "Uongo, Uongo" chants (video)

Drama as section of Embu youth shut down William with “Uongo, Uongo” chants during tour: “Uongo, Uongo”

President William Ruto’s week-long tour of Mt Kenya has been successful for the most part as he tours the vote-rich region.

Ahead of the tour, his critics claimed he had completely lost grip of the region, suggesting he might get a cold welcome.

Despite the relative success, Ruto has been forced to contend with isolated incidents of hostility, mainly directed at leaders in his entourage.

At the early stages, his visit to Embu County was building up to be a feisty affair as the last time he was in the county, he received a cold welcome.

On Friday, April 4, the head of state was welcomed by jubilant crowds who lined up along the roads to welcome him. The head of state initially had a rough time as he greeted the crowd, as a section kept shouting at him with chants of “Uwongo” “Praise the Lord! Kindly greet me people of Embu on air for me so I can hear them. People of Embu, first and foremost, I want to sincerely thank you for welcoming us here in Embu today. I want to tell you that I have come to Embu for four important matters,” Ruto said as his voice was drowned in “Uongo, Uongo” chants.

The president dismissed the chants against him before he continued with his speech, highlighting his plan to have homes in the area connected with electricity. “The first matter is about electricity. People of Embu, you told me that many of you here still don’t have electricity. Is that true or not? I have come here to ensure that the people of Embu get electricity,” the head of state continued.

Meanwhile, Nyeri leaders have appealed for decorum ahead of President William Ruto’s Mt Kenya tour stop in Nyeri county.

Ahead of his visit to Nyeri town and Othaya constituencies on Saturday, April 5, local leaders called for restraint, urging residents to stop heckling politicians during presidential events.

The appeal follows a series of confrontational incidents earlier in the week, where leaders allied to Kenya Kwanza were publicly shouted down by residents during Ruto’s stopovers in Nyandarua County.

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Addressing residents at separate forums, Nyeri governor Mutahi Kahiga cautioned against behaviour that he said could dent the region’s image and its standing in national development politics.

Kahiga, who has lately voiced concerns over the direction of Kenya Kwanza’s leadership, insisted that the presidency should be treated with dignity regardless of internal political rifts.

“Even if there are political differences, even if there are disagreements and such issues, it is important for me to tell you this: when the President comes here to Nyeri, there is no other president, we are the ones who elected him, and we should receive him with gratitude,” Governor Kahiga told residents.

Nyeri Town MP Duncan Mathenge called for what he described as political hygiene, warning that public disruptions during national events were unhelpful and counterproductive.

“I am in this town every weekend. Please come and heckle me every weekend. But this heckling on the day the president comes here doesn’t help at all. This is a national event. Let us have political hygiene,” said Mathenge.

Othaya MP Wambugu Wainaina, who will host the president in his constituency, urged constituents to give credit where it’s due, saying the head of state was only there to follow up on projects he had already initiated. “People are saying the president is lying. The president is not lying about anything. The president’s responsibility is to delegate; he gives us the task, and we follow through. He is simply coming to check on the progress of the work he assigned us,” said Wainaina.

The great people of Embu county!
May the Lord bless you with abundance!
That was lit 🔥🔥🔥🔥!#RutoMustGo #RutoMustGo pic.twitter.com/hZXL1syQr8
— Alfred Keter🇰🇪 (@alfredarapketer) April 4, 2025