Child refuses to return to mother after President Ruto picked her up

A young child on Monday refused to return to her mother after being carried by President William Ruto.

President Ruto was interacting with the child’s mother during the Nyota Capital disbursement excerise in Nyeri county.

She was explaining to the President her business plans and some of the things she needed to start up.

“If you buy a blender, pay rent, then buy all the other things that you need, the Nyota Fund will release the other Sh25,000, which you will now use to expand your business,” Ruto said.

The President went ahead and asked the child’s mother, “Is there anybody who asked for a bribe for you to get here? It is just the work of your hands that has led you here?”

After Ruto finished talking to the woman, he asked her about her baby’s name, which she had been carrying in one hand.

“What is the name of your baby?” President Ruto asked.

Without hesitating, the woman quickly responded and told the President her child’s name.

“Gathoni, how are you, my dear?” Ruto said as he reached out for the child to hold her.

The crowd roared with joy and ululations as he carefully held the baby and tried engaging the little one.

“Huyo ni mama, angalia wale wadosi,” he said to the baby with a smile as he turned to show her the crowd.

After that, President Ruto tried to return the baby to the mother so that he could talk to the next person.

It was at this point that the baby tightly clung to the President and refused to go back to her mother’s arms.

Everybody in the crowd burst into laughter as Ruto turned to the child’s mother, saying, “It seems like I will have to move in with your baby.”

President Ruto then turned to the baby again, saying, “We will go together. That was mum.”

He then turned to the mother again and told her that he was going to talk to the others who had also been waiting, while still holding the baby.

“Let me listen to the next mother as I carry her,” he said.

President Ruto and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki presided over the Nyota Business Start-Up Capital disbursement in Nyeri County on Monday.

This comes as the government continues rolling out the flagship youth empowerment programme across the country.

Ruto reiterated that the Nyota programme is a key pillar of his administration’s plan to tackle youth unemployment and expand access to economic opportunities, particularly for young people who have traditionally been excluded from formal financing systems.

He reiterated that the programme targets youth from diverse backgrounds, including those without formal academic qualifications.