President William Ruto drew laughter at State House, Nairobi, on Thursday after revealing that former Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana sometimes refers to him as “Kasongo”, a nickname that has become a familiar feature of Kenya’s political satire.

The President made the remark on November 5, 2026, during a ceremony at which he awarded a university charter to the International Leadership University (ILU), formally recognising the institution as a fully chartered university.

While acknowledging the university’s leadership, Ruto mentioned its Chancellor, Professor John Michael Kivutha Kibwana, and the chairperson of its council, Justice Musinga.

He then turned his attention to Kibwana, making a light-hearted observation about the nickname.

“Sometimes in other fora, he calls me Kasongo,” Ruto said, prompting laughter from those attending the ceremony.

“That is the nature of our society,” he added.

The exchange offered another glimpse of how the President has occasionally responded to a nickname that began as online political mockery but has since found its way into public rallies and political conversations.

How Kasongo Became Ruto’s Political Nickname

The nickname originates from Kasongo, a popular rhumba song by Super Mazembe, a band with Congolese roots that established itself in Kenya in the 1970s.

The song tells the story of a woman pleading with her estranged husband, Kasongo, to return home.

It regained popularity in Kenya towards the end of 2024, as social media users began adapting its lyrics and using the melody to criticise Ruto's administration.

The trend gathered momentum on TikTok and X, where creators incorporated the song into videos and satirical illustrations portraying the President and his government's policies.

Opposition politicians also adopted the nickname, turning it into a recurring feature of their criticism of the administration.

Among those who have publicly used it are former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Democratic Action Party of Kenya leader Eugene Wamalwa.

Ruto, however, has previously shown that he is willing to engage with the nickname rather than ignore it.

In January 2025, during a public address in Bungoma, he said he had no problem with being called Kasongo, describing the song as a good one.

He also joked about another nickname, Zakayo, which critics have associated with his administration's tax policies.

Who Is Kivutha Kibwana?

Kibwana is a lawyer, academic and former Makueni Governor who served two terms between 2013 and 2022.

He was installed as the third Chancellor of the International Leadership University in August 2026 at the institution's Kitengela campus.

He has also served as a professor of law at Daystar University and held several academic positions.

Thursday's exchange brought a lighter moment to the State House ceremony, with Ruto turning a nickname often used by his political opponents into a subject of humour in the presence of university leaders and other guests.

The President's response also highlighted how a social media trend that emerged as a form of political criticism has continued to feature in Kenya's wider political conversation.