"Mimi sikujui": Makueni woman fails to recognise President Ruto during development tour

President William Ruto was momentarily left stunned after a woman he met during a development tour in Makueni County appeared not to recognise him, or any of the officials accompanying him.

In videos seen online, the President is seen walking alongside the woman, engaging her in light conversation.

“Unajua hawa watu? Ni wageni sana? Na mimi, unanijua?” Ruto asked with a smile.

“Apana,” the woman responded plainly.

“Lakini nimekuja hapa mara nyingi, nimetembea huku, ama? Bado?” he pressed further.

@buzztrendkenya.co.ke A Makueni woman left the crowd and the internet in stitches after boldly claiming she has never seen President Ruto, saying “Mimi sikujui!” like a true village savage ? #kenyantiktok #foryoupage❤️❤️ #trendingvideo ♬ original sound - buzztrendkenya

“Bado,” she repeated, maintaining she had never seen him before.

Taking the moment in stride, Ruto continued the conversation, explaining the purpose of his visit, to showcase the newly built bridge meant to end the area’s persistent flooding problem.

The two also discussed ongoing road projects, with the woman urging the President to speed up their completion.

The incident occurred in Makueni, the first stop in Ruto’s four-day development tour of the Eastern region.

His itinerary for the day focused on infrastructure and housing: inspecting the Affordable Housing Programme in Wote, commissioning the completed Kasikeu and Mikuyuni bridges, and issuing over 2,140 title deeds to residents in Kasikeu.

He also officially launched construction of the Emali-Ukia Road.

Online, Kenyans were quick to react to the viral video.

“It can be true, some of them never go beyond the market — no radio, no TV, nothing,” wrote one X user.

Another commented, “This is the face of disappointment — the kind that comes from believing too deeply. You can tell she once had hope in his leadership. Now she looks at him like a stranger. That’s what betrayal by power does — it erases even the memory of trust.”

President Ruto’s tour will span Makueni, Kitui, and Machakos counties, culminating in a leaders’ meeting on Saturday, November 15, 2025. The trip focuses on inspecting, commissioning, and launching key projects aimed at accelerating development and bridging long-standing regional disparities.