President William Ruto has drawn laughter after responding to a remark about a railway project by asking why anyone would want to eat the steel used to build it.
Ruto made the remarks while addressing the issue surrounding railway infrastructure and public discussion about the value of such projects. In the exchange, he said he was surprised to hear someone say, “We cannot eat this railway.”
The President then responded with a question that quickly caught attention: “Why would you want to eat the steel?” His response was followed by laughter from those present.
The remark appeared to refer to a wider debate over whether major infrastructure projects directly address the everyday economic needs of Kenyans. Railway investments have often been discussed alongside questions about public spending, development priorities and the benefits such projects bring to ordinary citizens.
Ruto’s response focused on the purpose of infrastructure rather than treating the railway itself as something that could be consumed. His choice of words created a light moment during the exchange, with the audience reacting with laughter.
The comment has since attracted attention online, where Kenyans have continued discussing the President’s response and the issue behind the exchange. The short exchange has also prompted different interpretations of what the original comment about eating the railway meant.
The discussion comes as infrastructure projects remain part of the government’s development agenda. Supporters of such projects have argued that transport infrastructure can support trade, movement of people and economic activity, while critics have raised questions about costs, priorities and the direct benefits to households.
For now, the President’s “eat the steel” response remains the part of the exchange receiving the most attention. The laughter showed how a serious discussion about infrastructure briefly turned into a lighter moment.