Political leaders are increasingly resorting to offensive language in public rather than sticking to carefully prepared speeches and polite political statements. Of late, politicians across the political divide have resorted to name-calling, assigning nicknames and using harsh language to ridicule their critics.   

Sadly, Kenyans are cheering on these politicians as they trade nicknames, ridicule each other and fire off witty remarks while positioning themselves ahead of the August 2027 general election.   

A section of religious leaders has even criticised presidential aspirants for using tribal and inflammatory language, which they say could plunge the country into chaos. The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) has asked the aspirants to avoid inflammatory, tribal, hateful or demeaning statements.  

Exchanges between the opposing sides have escalated. Lately, President William Ruto and his former deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, the leader of the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), have been trading barbs, with comments bordering on insults and personal attacks.   

At the top is President Ruto, who has been calling his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta “Sponsor”, a monied financier bankrolling the opposition faction and trying to sabotage his administration.   

And for his former deputy, Gachagua, the President has nicknamed him “Mr Texas”, a succinct jab linking the former DP’s rhetoric and political posturing to his trips to the United States (U.S.), pronouncements and rumoured property acquisition in Texas.  

Wiper Patriotic Front (WPF) leader Kalonzo Musyoka has been nicknamed “Mr 40”, a reference to his four decades in public service. President Ruto argues that this longevity has not translated into tangible development. In addition, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has been labelled “Mr Empty” by the President following debates over major infrastructure and investment projects. President Ruto has accused the Senator of lacking substance.   

Jubilee Party leader Dr Fred Matiang’i has not been spared either. The President recently called him “Mr Yala”, an allusion to the River Yala killings under the previous government. Dr. Matiang’i has vehemently denied any role in the killings.    

However, some of these politicians have managed to turn these nicknames around and neutralise them through humour or reframing, openly accepting the jabs and even making light of them. For instance, former President Kenyatta casually embraced the “Sponsor” tag, turning an intended insult into a light-hearted crowd-pleaser.    

Wiper leader Kalonzo also flipped the “Mr 40” by questioning whether Kenyans were blind to repeatedly electing him over 40 years. And on Gachagua’s “Mr Texas”, his allies countered by calling the President “Mr Taxes”.   

Since 2024, President Ruto has been on the receiving end of nicknames. El Chapo, Kasongo, Zakayo, Hustler, Deputy Jesus, and Chicken Seller are just some of the names he has acquired over time. Some of these names show affection, others mock him, while others reflect profound anger.   

Last year, President Ruto acknowledged the trend of rechristening, joking that Kenyans were “finishing” him off with the numerous labels.  

Before President Ruto was elected to office in 2022, he attracted nicknames that bolstered his reputation as a man of the people. First was the “hustler”, which presented him as a leader who understood the challenges of ordinary people and would prioritise them. The second was “chicken seller,” which referred to his earlier life hawking poultry on the roadside, resonating with many who saw his life as an epitome of their own.  

The President was also fond of quoting Bible verses, earning him the nickname “Deputy Jesus”. He was also given the name “Nabii”, or prophet.   

And when the government introduced a raft of unpopular taxes that many Kenyans saw as a betrayal of “hustlers”, he was nicknamed “Zakayo”, a Swahili word for the name Zaccheus, a Biblical figure portrayed as a greedy tax collector who climbed a tree to see Jesus.   

These nicknames have emerged at a time when the country faces many challenges, and political leaders should focus on bringing people together and working for the common good rather than engaging in divisive, name-calling politics.  

Instead of blaming others, complaining, calling opponents childish names, and making decisions based on what will win them public support, political leaders should act responsibly and prioritise the country’s interests over their political ambitions.