How Kenya’s William Ruto got his many nicknames | The Listening Post

Key Concepts

• Nicknames as Political Commentary: The video explores how nicknames are used in Kenya and other African countries as a form of public critique and commentary on political leaders, particularly when direct protest is difficult or dangerous.
• Hustler Narrative: President William Ruto's self-proclaimed "hustler" identity and its contrast with his government's policies.
• Humor and Absurdity: The role of humor, particularly stemming from contradictions between reality and rhetoric, in generating nicknames and challenging authority.
• Digital Constituency: The power of online communities in Kenya to mobilize, express dissent, and influence public discourse.
• Co-optation of Nicknames: Leaders attempting to neutralize criticism by embracing or reinterpreting the nicknames given to them.
• Generational Shift in Political Engagement: The increasing role of youth and digital platforms in political expression and activism.

Nicknames as a Tool of Public Critique in Kenya

The video delves into the phenomenon of Kenyan President William Ruto accumulating numerous nicknames, a practice that, contrary to signifying popularity, serves as a method for citizens to express dissent and critique. These nicknames are often born from public frustration and are a way to "take pot shots" at the president when direct confrontation is not feasible.

Evolution of Ruto's Nicknames

• "Arab Mashamba": During his tenure as deputy president, Ruto was known as "Arab Mashamba," which translates to "son of land." However, the underlying implication was that he was someone who "grabs land," suggesting accusations of land acquisition.
• "Zakayo": Upon becoming president, Ruto's initial policy of increasing taxes led to the nickname "Zakayo," referencing the biblical figure of a tax collector.
• "El Chapo": This nickname emerged during a period when Ruto promised to provide "chapatis" (a type of bread) to Kenyan schoolchildren. The connection to the notorious drug lord "El Chapo" likely highlights a perceived disconnect or broken promise.
• "Kusongo": Following his election in 2022, Ruto's government implemented tax hikes and heavy borrowing, exacerbating a cost of living crisis. This led to the nickname "Kusongo," derived from an 1980s song about a man who abandons his family, symbolizing the public's feeling of being "hustled" and let down.

The Mechanics of Nicknaming

The rapid proliferation of nicknames is seen as a reflection of the fast-paced transformation of Kenyan politics. When the presidency makes a decision, the public responds with these labels as a form of indirect criticism. This method allows for expression that is humorous, aims to stay ahead of potential retribution, and serves as a way to "keep up the heat" without daily protests.

Cartoonist's Perspective: A cartoonist explains that nicknames have been used throughout their career as a protective measure against accusations of libel or slander. They have also adopted public-generated nicknames, recognizing their utility in expressing public sentiment.

Humor as a Product of Absurdity: Humor, and by extension these nicknames, often arises from absurdity, specifically the clash or contradiction between reality and what is being communicated. This contradiction is effectively captured by the nicknames, reflecting a "lack of trust" and fatigue with unfulfilled promises.

Historical Precedents and Broader African Context

The use of humor to challenge power is not a new phenomenon and has a long tradition in Kenya.

The Moi Era

• Daniel Arap Moi: Ruled under the slogan "Nyayo" (footsteps), promising to follow the path of his predecessor, Jomo Kenyatta. However, as Moi's rule became more authoritarian, "Nyayo" evolved into a nickname with a more negative connotation, closer to "trample" than "footsteps."

Cross-Continental Examples

Nicknames that carry significant critique and offer a degree of protection are prevalent across Africa:

• Nigeria: President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is mockingly called "Tinubu," a play on words that critiques his "painful austerity policies."
• Uganda: Finance Minister Matia Kasaija is dubbed "Minister of Enjoyment" for his perceived nonchalance towards the country's economic crisis, as exemplified by his statement, "Money will come."
• Tanzania: Following a disputed election and subsequent crackdown, President Samia Suluhu Hassan was nicknamed "Idi Amin Mama," a reference to Uganda's notorious dictator, Idi Amin.

Challenging Quasi-God-Like Figures

In many African countries, executive figures are often perceived as quasi-god-like, figures who should not be challenged. Giving these political figures nicknames is a way to "bring the sun down to earth," demystifying and humanizing them, thereby making them more accessible to public scrutiny.

The Role of Youth and Digital Platforms

A striking aspect of the current era is the disconnect between African leaders and the youth. Nicknames have become a primary means for young people to capture and express this absurdity.

Youth Anger and Government Response

• Online Mobilization: Youth anger over new taxes and government excesses in Kenya grew online, eventually spilling onto the streets.
• Brutal Crackdown: The government responded with mass arrests, abductions, and online surveillance, resulting in over 60 deaths by the end of the year.
• Media Targeting: Media outlets critical of the president faced threats of closure, protest coverage was banned, and reporters were threatened.

Online Ridicule as an Unreachable Space

While traditional information spaces can be controlled, online ridicule is harder to suppress. This has led to a new wave of nicknames for Ruto:

• "Kathi the Butcher Must Go": A direct call for the end of Ruto's presidency.
• "One Tum": A prediction that Ruto will only serve one term.

These nicknames, "One Tum" and "Must Go," are distinguished by being "calls to action" and "invocations of a broader political project."

Kenya's Organized and Vocal Digital Constituency

Kenyans online are described as one of the most organized and vocal national constituencies globally. This "digital constituency" has been so effective in its social media criticism that former President Uhuru Kenyatta II reportedly deleted his social media accounts.

Contrast with the Moi Era: The silence of the Moi era is contrasted with the immediate interaction and sharing experienced by those who speak online today. The Kenyan government, as a whole, appears ill-equipped to handle a well-informed, vocal population with internet access.

Ruto's Attempt to Co-opt Nicknames

Despite failing to quash the nicknames, William Ruto has attempted to co-opt them. He has been observed dancing to "Kusongo," laughing off "Zakayo," and trying to reframe "One Tum" as "One More Time."

The Limits of Co-optation

The video suggests that this strategy is unlikely to succeed because "good satire rarely flows down from power; it rises up from the people." The effectiveness of satire lies in its ability to transform frustration into laughter and laughter into defiance.

Cartoonist's Analogy: A cartoonist relates a personal experience of being called "the big eyed one" as a child. Initially bothered, they eventually embraced it, turning it into a signature feature. Ruto's approach is seen as similar, an attempt to "brush off the ridicule" and "throw some of the ridicule back."

Taking Power from Nicknames: By embracing nicknames and showing he is "in on the joke," Ruto aims to reduce their impact. However, this strategy might inadvertently signal to the public that their voices are being heard and that their criticisms are being paid attention to.

Mimicry vs. Genuine Change

The Kenyan elite are criticized for being mediocre and engaging in "copycatting" or mimicking the youth. There is a perceived "hunger and thirst" among young people to understand their circumstances, a thirst not seen before. The current generation, drawing empowerment from laughter, is expected to eventually translate this into political creativity and fundamental change, rendering the elite's mimicry ineffective.

Conclusion

The video highlights the evolving landscape of political dissent in Kenya and across Africa, where nicknames have become a potent, albeit indirect, tool for public critique. While leaders may attempt to co-opt these labels, the underlying sentiment of frustration and the power of grassroots humor and digital mobilization suggest that genuine change may be driven by the people, not dictated from above. The disconnect between leaders and the youth, amplified by digital platforms, is a key driver of this phenomenon, fostering a new generation of politically engaged citizens who use laughter as a form of defiance and a precursor to fundamental change.