President Ruto was on forced to abruptly pause his speech in Migori County after sections of the crowd began chanting the name of Raila Odinga Jr., popularly known as Raila Junior, during a public address.
The incident occurred as the Head of State addressed residents during his development tour of the region.
Moments into his remarks, loud chants of “Junior! Junior!” erupted from the crowd, momentarily drowning out the President’s speech and drawing the attention of security officers and event organizers.
Eyewitnesses said the residents appeared eager to hear from Raila Junior, who was present at the event.
The chants persisted for several minutes, prompting President Ruto to stop speaking and acknowledge the crowd’s demands.
In a move that drew applause, the President invited Raila Junior to address the gathering.
Raila Junior took to the podium and briefly spoke to the crowd, thanking them for the warm reception and urging unity and peaceful engagement in national development.
His remarks were met with cheers, signaling strong support from sections of the Migori residents.
Following the event, Raila Junior shared a video clip of the moment on his social media platforms, showing the crowd chanting his name and President Ruto giving him an opportunity to speak.
The video quickly gained traction online, sparking conversations about the evolving political dynamics in the region.
The incident highlighted Raila Junior’s growing public visibility and influence, particularly in Nyanza, a region traditionally associated with the Odinga family.
President’s decision to allow Junior to speak as a gesture of political tolerance and engagement.
President Ruto later resumed his address, focusing on development projects and unity, as the crowd settled down and the event proceeded without further disruption.
