- Former president Uhuru Kenyatta and visually impaired Senator Crystal Asige met at the IGAD Conference held on December 17 in Nairobi
- Uhuru delighted Asige and attendees by thoughtfully describing himself, including his appearance, height and outfit, before addressing the gathering
- His inclusive and mindful gesture sparked reactions on social media, with many Kenyans praising him for his consideration and warmth
Former president Uhuru Kenyatta has delighted Kenyans following a wholesome moment shared with nominated senator Crystal Asige, who is visually impaired.
Source: Facebook
The two met during the IGAD Conference held in Nairobi on Wednesday, December 17.
How did Uhuru Kenyatta treat Crystal Asige?
As Uhuru took to the stage to address delegates, he paused to ensure Asige felt included, creating a light-hearted and memorable moment.
“Before I begin, I take the lead that was given to us by Crystal here,” Uhuru said, before going on to describe himself to the audience.
“I am an African gentleman, 5’11 and shrinking, middle-aged on the plus side, slightly lighter chocolate, wearing a white shirt, slightly round, and only a little bit round,” he added, drawing laughter from those in attendance.
The thoughtful gesture appeared to impress Asige, who later took to social media to express her appreciation.
“A good sport. I appreciate President Uhuru Kenyatta for seeing it as important to be inclusive of the VIPs in the room by giving us a visual description of what he looks like before beginning his address. He did well, right?” she wrote on Facebook.
Beyond the light moment, Uhuru delivered a strong message to the youth, cautioning against the popular phrase leaders of tomorrow.
He urged young people to take charge of shaping Africa’s future now.
“If you continue believing you are the leaders of tomorrow, that tomorrow will never come,” he said. “You are the leaders of today. Your ideas, your courage, your personal commitment will shape the future of Africa,” he said.
On her part, Asige challenged young leaders to pursue leadership with purpose, depth, and spiritual grounding. She encouraged them to strive for excellence that cannot be ignored.
Watch the video below:
Netizens react to Uhuru’s moment with Asige
The interaction quickly sparked reactions online, with many netizens praising Uhuru. Here are some of their comments:
Masolo Mabonga:
“Michael Ollinga Oruko here is our freestyle man who made the presidency look like a joke and a serious sport at the same time!”
Michael Ollinga Oruko:
“Masolo Mabonga we need to do that charisma chapter in the untitled book of what it takes to win votes.”
Paul Musyoka:
“It fascinates me how he relates well with the people knowing where he came from while the one who grew up with the people from the grassroots doesn’t quite connect with them.”
Alice Mundia:
“He did very well. Many times we forget to describe ourselves as a key component of inclusivity.”
Marion Wangui:
“Nice description considering he was addressing people with disabilities I’m sure they really appreciated him describing to them how he looks.”
Source: Instagram
Ruto refers to Crystal Asige by wrong name
During a speech at State House while signing the Persons with Disabilities Bill on Thursday, May 8, President William Ruto accidentally referred to Asige as journalist Pamela Asigi.
He quickly corrected himself, prompting controlled laughter from attendees.
Once the clip surfaced on social media, it quickly went viral, with netizens sharing a range of reactions.
Proofreading by Asher Omondi, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
