'RUTO MUST GO ' CHANTS ESCALATE AS MATIANG'I RETURNS

A wave of excitement and anti-Ruto chants swept through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on the night of Thursday, June 19, 2025, as a section of Kenyans turned out in large numbers to welcome back former Interior Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Fred Matiang’i, who made his highly anticipated second return to the country.

The atmosphere at the airport quickly became charged as chants of “Ruto must go!” echoed across the arrivals terminal—a bold political statement aimed at President William Ruto. Many in the crowd, mostly youthful, held their phones high, live streaming the moment and singing resistance anthems as anticipation grew.

Supporters had begun trickling into the airport earlier in the evening, and by nightfall, the numbers had swelled. Despite the growing crowd, police officers present maintained a calm and non-confrontational stance, allowing the gathering to express themselves peacefully.

When Matiang’i finally appeared, the crowd erupted, pressing forward in hopes of catching a closer look at the man many view as a potential challenger in the 2027 presidential race. Shouts of “Mwizi!” (thief) and continued cries of “Ruto must go!” filled the air.

In a brief address to the supporters, Matiang’i acknowledged the energy of the gathering but urged for order and respect, noting that the airport remains a high-security area vital to the country’s operations.

“Thank you so much. Now, it is time for us to have a conversation with one another about the future of our country and try the best we can to be as orderly as we can ever be. That is why I was saying that this is the airport, and usually the airport is a security place. We will be brief here so that we cannot make it difficult for these wonderful people to man the airport because this is also the entry point to our country, and we must also make it easier for visitors and those who are coming into our country to get in peacefully and go on with their business. I want us to organise a meeting with all of you within the next few days so that we can get together and talk and now plan this together."

He assured his supporters that a structured public forum would be held in the coming days to continue the national conversation he believes is necessary.

Matiang’i, who was endorsed as the flag bearer of the Jubilee party, headed by former President, Uhuru Kenyatta and SG , Jeremiah Kioni, also used the moment to address the current political climate in the country, particularly speaking to the youth-led Gen Z movement. He emphasized the importance of voter registration as a tool for achieving real change, urging young people to move from protest to electoral participation.

“We can protest all we want, but if we’re not registering to vote, we haven’t truly succeeded,” he said. “We must prepare to engage meaningfully in the upcoming elections if we want to see transformation.”