Ruto Gets New Nickname in Nyamira as Resident Declares End of ‘Kasongo’ Era

President William Ruto has been given a new nickname following an unexpected moment during his public rally in Nyamira County, where a resident proposed replacing the popular ‘Kasongo’ tag with a different name.

The incident happened on Sunday, November 8, 2026, when the Head of State addressed residents at Magwagwa Stadium during his development tour of the region.

During the rally, a local resident was handed the microphone and used the opportunity to announce that the President should no longer be referred to as Kasongo but instead adopt the name ‘Omosongo’.

The resident appeared determined to make the name change official, announcing it before the enthusiastic crowd that had gathered to welcome the President.

Speaking in Kiswahili, he declared that he wanted to replace the name Kasongo with Omosongo, adding that from that day onwards, William Samoei Ruto would be known by the new nickname.

In the Gusii language, Omosongo refers to a white person or European, making the announcement an interesting addition to the President’s growing collection of public nicknames.

The new name comes after Ruto became widely associated with the nickname Kasongo, which originated from online discussions and references to a popular Congolese rumba song.

The President previously embraced the Kasongo name during his tour of the Western region, turning what initially appeared to be social media banter into part of his public identity.

Before Kasongo, Ruto was also popularly associated with other nicknames, including Zakayo and Nabii.

The name Zakayo was initially used by critics who linked him to the biblical tax collector Zacchaeus, particularly when expressing dissatisfaction with his administration’s taxation policies.

However, Ruto responded by embracing the reference and highlighting the biblical story’s connection to Jesus.

He has also been associated with the name Nabii, meaning prophet, because of his frequent appearances at religious gatherings.

The latest Omosongo nickname has now added another interesting chapter to the President’s political branding, with the Nyamira resident’s announcement likely to generate fresh conversations across social media.

From Kasongo to Omosongo: Ruto gets new nickname in Nyamira

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