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Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Director of Communications Philip Etale has advised President William Ruto to stop responding to everything said by the youth.

Taking to his official X account on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, Etale argued that President Ruto’s dedication to responding to everything said or posted by the young people is the main reason why they keep on making fun of him.

According to Etale, such a move would only make young people famous.

Etale on Ruto-Salasya exchange

He urged the Head of State to be a silent listener, arguing that the president’s response to Mumias East Member of Parliament (MP) Peter Salasya was unnecessary.

“Dear Mr. President, the reason the young people of Kenya make jokes about you is because of your dedication to responding to each and everything they say/post. Don’t be reactionary. Be a silent listener like God. When you respond to the likes of Salasya, you make them big,” Etale stated.

Salasya addresses Ruto

Etale’s statement comes a day after Salasya stole the limelight during President Ruto’s event in his constituency, prompting the head of state to respond.

Salasya seized the opportunity to criticise the government’s operations, urging President Ruto to reconsider the advice he is receiving from some of his close allies.

Salasya grabbed the public’s attention when he addressed the president, calling out the government for what he termed a lack of transparency and poor decision-making.

“I want to ask you, Mr. President, to hire me as your advisor because your people are not being honest with you,” Salasya said.

“They’re telling you SHA is working when it is not working. The new university funding model is not working. I know you have the heart to help the country, but there are cartels and traitors within your government.”

Ruto’s response

While responding to Salasya, Ruto hit out at the youthful first term MP, terming him as a young man who is after fame.

“Mpango yangu na nia yangu ni kubadilisha hii Kenya. Hii Kenya haiwezi kubadilishwa kiholela; haiwezi kubadilishwa kwa kupigiwa makofi. Kuna wengine hapa wananiambia ati niendelee kupigiwa makofi; mimi sihitaji kupigiwa makofi. Nyinyi ambao mnatafuta kupigiwa makofi, endeleeni; wale mnatafuta umaarufu, endeleeni kutafuta umaarufu. Unajua hawa watu wengine ni wageni wamefika juzi kwa hii siasa. Si mimi nimekuwa around hapa. Kama wewe ni mtu umefika hapa two three years ago, endelea kutafuta makofi,” Ruto said, in what appeared to be a direct reference to Salasya.

He went ahead to defend some of his key projects, among them the affordable housing project and the Universal Health Care dubbed Taifa Care that is being administered by the Social Health Authority (SHA), which Salasya had attacked in his address.

“Eeeh, Salasya, kwa sababu wewe uko na kazi sasa hutaki tupange hawa pia wawe na kazi? Hiyo ni ungwana kweli? Kwa sababu wewe uko na kazi, wacha na sisi pia tupange hawa pia wapate kazi,” Ruto said.

He further noted that while Salasya is effective in defending the interests of his constituents, he occasionally crosses the line by “threatening” others in the process.

“He knows how to defend his people, but at times, he threatens them and even us (the government). He threatens us, but I will hold his hands so that we can work together as one,” Ruto said.