During a gathering of Muslim clerics at State House Nairobi on August 5, a sheikh from Kakamega captured the attention of President William Ruto and guests with a lighthearted story about his 2022 election celebrations.
The cleric recounted how he had joyfully marked President Ruto’s victory by slaughtering his only cockerel. He shared that he had been unable to meet the president until this event to report the loss, which had weighed on him since.
Addressing the President, the sheikh said:
- “When President William Ruto was elected to his current term, I was among those who celebrated wholeheartedly. In fact, I slaughtered my only cockerel to mark his victory.”
- “It has pained me ever since that I never got the opportunity to meet the president and tell him that I lost my only cockerel because of his victory.”
He then humorously pointed out the irony of finally visiting State House only to be served two pieces of chicken, making a playful plea for compensation tied to his intention to support Ruto again in 2027.
“Now, the unfortunate part of it, Your Excellency, when I came to visit you today, I was given only two pieces of chicken. I'm just hoping that after this, you are going to see how to compensate my cockerel, as I plan to give you another vote,” he said, prompting laughter from officials and dignitaries present.
This moment resonated amid ongoing discussions about poultry rearing and housing challenges in western Kenya, notably following Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna’s critique of affordable housing plans in the region.
