Kenyan President William Ruto is facing backlash on social media over a photo he shared on Facebook from his visit to the White House.
Ruto, accompanied by his wife Rachel and a delegation of about 30 others, is in Washington DC for an official state visit.
He posted photos of his extensive engagements at the White House on May 23, which included formal and informal meetings with President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.
One particular photo, taken during a tour of the White House, shows Ruto sitting in Biden’s brown leather chair behind the president’s desk, while Biden stands behind him, both smiling.
This image has sparked criticism from Kenyans and others across Africa, with both subtle and direct attacks aimed at Ruto.
@SonOfKisumu posted on X: “Say what you want about Raila but President Joe Biden will not have treated him the way he treated Ruto like a child excited to be in his boss’s office & chair. Ruto has always been shameless. He has no political standards.”
Aaron Barmer (@_AaronBarmer) cued in: “Excuse me, but the US is more or less patting Kenya on the head with these pledged sums, no?
“This is the country the US wants to do most of the dirty work in Haiti; it doesn’t seem like Biden is offering that much in return. I mean, it’s nice Ruto got to sit in Biden’s chair.”
Brendan (@BrendanMcInnis) wrote: “Kenya’s President William Ruto photo op with Joe Biden. Have American Presidents done with other heads of state in their chair? I have seen kids, maybe a celebrity (?), but not this.”
See Ruto’s post :
