President William Ruto came under fire after threatening sugar cartels with three things – translated to Swahili as Mambo ni Matatu – deportation, jail and going to heaven.
The statement sparked widespread condemnation from human rights groups, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), and the opposition leaders.
Despite the groups mounting pressure on the Head of State to retract and apologize, Ruto maintained that the corrupt have no place in his administration and that he was not going to withdraw the statements.
“Some people like Azimio and the Law Society of Kenya are issuing statements defending thieves.
Let me repeat so that they can hear it very well. Those thieves have three options. Leave the country, go to prison, or make plans to go to heaven,” President Wiiliam Ruto said.
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A visibly angry Ruto made the roadside declaration during his tour of Western Kenya, with the Azimio wing arguing that the country risks sliding back to the dark days of forced disappearance.
However, netizens had a field day as memes hit different social media platforms, creating humor and light moments from a controversial statement by the Head of State.
One heavy thinker created a video imitating the President’s voice and addressing men on three things; that young men should either marry, be married, or find a way to live as singles.
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Moreover, some corporates and churches jumped on the trend and created promotional material with the three Swahili words – Mambo ni matatu.
Mambo ni matatu, lives will be transformed, healing signs and wonders, Jesus will be glorified,” Framar YMG wrote while promoting an upcoming church event.
Additionally, a real estate company used the same slogan in its promo, ” Mambo ni matatu, ready title deed, free daily site visits and friendly payment plan.”
Gender Violence Recovery Centre (GVRC) wrote ‘Mambo ni Matatu’, stop Gender Based Violence (GBV), stop HIV/AIDS and stop teenage pregnancies.
Kenyans on Twitter (X) popularly known as KOT also went ahead to share artwork designs of t-shirts with the slogan, for interested buyers to place orders.
