President William Ruto voiced his certainty about winning the upcoming 2027 General Election. He criticized opposition leaders who gathered at Rigathi Gachagua's residence in Nyeri, asserting they lack a transformative agenda. Ruto emphasized that the 2027 election will be determined by manifestos and development plans, not tribalism or hatred. He accused the opposition of divisive politics and urged them to focus on service delivery, highlighting that voters will prioritize leaders with solid development plans for infrastructure and essential services.

The Kenyan government condemned the shoe-throwing incident targeting President Ruto in Migori County as "shameful." Footage showed the shoe hitting the president's arm during a rally. Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura demanded arrests, citing disrespect for national institutions. Although President Ruto continued his address, urging his security team not to pursue the crowd, three individuals were reportedly arrested. The incident occurred in a region known to be an opposition stronghold. While some condemned the act, others viewed it as reflecting frustration over economic hardship and increased taxes. Concerns were raised about the president’s safety, especially following the recent assassination of an opposition MP.

Following the shoe-throwing incident, Kenyans on social media platforms created celebratory memes and puns. The incident galvanized the internet, with many using the word 'shoe' for wordplay and caricaturing the event. Memes and parody videos went viral, with users lampooning the president and security agencies. One user's old tweet suggesting someone should throw a shoe at President Ruto resurfaced, being dubbed prophetic. Activist Hanifa Adan reacted against those criticizing the celebration, noting that the public's reaction reflects deeper issues.

Throughout history, throwing a shoe has symbolized contempt and protest against those in power. Such gestures have occurred globally, targeting various leaders. An incident during President Uhuru Kenyatta’s 2017 campaign echoed similar discontent, as did another incident in 1969 involving President Jomo Kenyatta. Iraqi journalist Muntadhar al-Zaidi's shoe-throwing at President George W. Bush in 2008 became an iconic instance. Other global leaders, including Wen Jiabao, Arbab Ghulam Rahim, and Pervez Musharraf, have faced similar acts of dissent. Shoe-throwing incidents have also marked significant political moments, such as the Egyptian revolution in 2011 and protests in Taiwan in 2013.

William Ruto's shoe-throwing incident aligns with previous occurrences targeting world leaders. George W. Bush, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Wen Jiabao, John Howard, and Tony Blair have experienced similar protests. In Ruto’s case, video evidence suggests the shoe-throwing may have been accidental. A man holding his shoe while seemingly recording the president had it knocked out of his hand by someone behind him, sending it toward the president.