Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has sparked a new round of political commentary with a post following Donald Trump’s win in the 2024 U.S. presidential election.
In his X post, Sonko appeared to mock President William Ruto and five Kenyan governors who had earlier visited the U.S. this year, where they were photographed alongside U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris.
The governors in question Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay), Anne Waiguru (Kirinyaga), Wavinya Ndeti (Machakos), Susan Kihika (Nakuru), and Cecily Mbarire (Embu) had joined President Ruto during a state visit to the U.S.
Sonko, in his post, congratulated Trump on his victory, while also offering a message of sympathy for Kamala Harris.
His words, “Haki poleni sana. Nawapenda sana. Hiyo sio mwisho wa safari. Kamala will live to fight another day,” loosely translated as, “Sorry, I love you all. This is not the end of the journey. Kamala will live to fight another day,” seemed to offer comfort to the Vice President.
However, many saw this as a subtle jab aimed at Ruto and the governors, given the context of their ties with Harris.
Sonko also took a moment to praise Trump, adding, “Congratulations are once again in order for the President who had faced impeachment and emerged victorious, Donald Trump.”
His comment about Trump’s resilience appeared to add to the critique, further playing into the tension between the Kenyan leadership’s interactions with Harris and the global political developments.
The post has garnered mixed reactions from social media users.
While some view it as a playful commentary, others believe it was an intentional poke at the governors and President Ruto, especially considering their high-profile engagement with Harris earlier this year.
By Kenyans