President William Ruto publicly criticised Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja for his casual dressing during a state function at State House, Nairobi, on April 10, 2026.

The President, who was addressing leaders during the signing of an agreement for the Modern Arena and Entertainment District, pointed out that the governor’s attire was not appropriate for the formality of the venue.

Governor Sakaja was wearing a casual navy-blue shirt, lacking a suit and tie, contrasting with the formal attire of other attendees.

The President jokingly, yet firmly, stated that attendees should look better, suggesting he might instruct security to bar inappropriately dressed individuals from future events, prompting laughter from those present.

‘’Looking at the people who have come to this occasion, including the governor of Nairobi, I was asking myself whether they are here by design or they were waylaid. The way they are addressed they don’t look like they knew they were coming to state House’’.

The remarks drew laughter from leaders present at the State House. The president himself was donning a signature yellow silk shirt.

Speaking at the State House meeting, President William Ruto was presiding over the signing of an agreement for a modern arena and entertainment district in Nairobi, dubbed “Railway City.”

“I think next time I will tell the security at the State House not to allow people dressed like that’ ’president Ruto said. 

This is not the first time President William Ruto has publicly rebuked leaders in his administration. On August 1, 2023, he called out two Cabinet Secretaries for failing to sign performance contracts after they arrived late to a State House event.

The President, who was furious after the then-Interior CS Kithure Kindiki and former Trade CS Moses Kuria were locked out of State House, said he needed an explanation. Ruto said he did not understand why leaders would miss such an important work-related engagement, adding that failure to keep time with one’s employer amounted to self-dismissal.

He further directed the two CSs to personally submit written explanations for their lateness. “I will be looking forward to a personally written explanation on why you were late and don’t use traffic as an excuse,” Ruto said.