A moment that few at the Bomet Town rally were prepared for unfolded when a young girl stepped forward to recite a poem in Kalenjin directly addressed to President William Ruto, leaving both him and the crowd visibly emotional.
The girl, who identified herself as Dora Chepchumba, delivered the poem in Kalenjin before a large, energetic outdoor crowd, with Ruto standing close by.
Her words, though spoken in her mother tongue, carried a weight that needed no translation.
What Dora Said to Ruto
In the poem, Dora urged the president to remain steadfast despite the criticism and insults directed at him.
“Grandpa William, I have words for you even though I am a young child. These are words passed on to you from a little child. No one should stress you or threaten you,” she recited.
She went on to reference the various names and slogans his opponents had used against him, including “kasongo,” “wantam,” “chapati,” “Ruto must go,” and “zakayo,” telling him to hear them with one ear and let them pass through the other.
“Keep working as hard as you do. Keep standing tall like David in the Bible. God knows all the plans he has for us,” she continued.
Towards the end of the poem, Dora’s composure broke. Through tears, she revealed a personal truth that made the moment even more powerful:
“My mum is really suffering.”
President Ruto reaches for his handkerchief
The young girl’s final words clearly struck a deep chord. Ruto reached into his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief, wiping away tears of his own as Dora wept beside him.
The scene, raw and unscripted, captured the kind of human moment rarely seen at political rallies.
Ruto closed his remarks at the rally by thanking the people of Bomet and expressing his love for them.
“I love you the great people of Bomet. God bless you,” he said.
The footage, drawn from the president’s own livestream of the event, spread rapidly on social media, with many Kenyans finding themselves moved by Dora’s courage and the sincerity of the moment.
Watch the moment Dora’s poem moved President Ruto to tears:
