The occasion was a community gathering where locals had gathered to hear the Head of State speak. What they didn’t expect was a comedic detour that would leave even the most serious elders chuckling.
With a cheeky grin and impeccable timing, Ruto shared a story about how “some men extort money from ladies” — complete with a tongue-in-cheek phrase that has since become a meme: “Eti master, Bazenga! kumbe ni chapaa anatafuta.”
For those outside the loop, the line loosely translates to men claiming to be “masters” only to be revealed as individuals seeking free cash (“chapaa”) — a playful jab at opportunistic behaviour that many young people instantly recognised and shared widely online.
The clip, originating from a TikTok post that has since clocked up thousands of views, perfectly captures the President pausing mid-speech, breaking into laughter, and watching the crowd dissolve into giggles alongside him.
It might seem unusual for a Head of State to riff on what’s essentially an everyday social cliché, but that’s precisely why the moment struck a chord.
For Gen-Z audiences, who often use humour to call out social quirks and double standards, the story wasn’t just funny — it was relatable. In a country where hustling is part of daily life and slang flows between Swahili, Sheng and English, Ruto’s unexpected comic delivery felt like a breath of fresh air.
Social media users on platforms like TikTok and X wasted no time turning the line into trends and memes. Some tagged friends with captions like “When he says he’s a master, but he really wants chapaa”, while others made short skits echoing Ruto’s playful inflexion.
Even those who don’t follow politics closely found themselves sharing the clip — not for its political content, but for its humour and sheer absurdity.
For younger Kenyans, political coverage can sometimes feel dry or deeply serious.
Moments like these — where a national leader improvises with local flavour and language — make politics feel closer to everyday experience.
By stephen atila
