B y Bonface Mulyungi

President William Ruto on Friday hosted a Makueni High School student at State House, Nairobi, days after the learner went viral for his striking mimicry of the Head of State during a talent showcase at the annual Choxx Festival held in Limuru.

The student, whose dramatic performance captivated audiences online, met the President alongside members of the accompanying delegation in what State House sources described as a light-hearted but symbolic recognition of youth creativity and talent.

Videos circulating widely on social media showed the student dressed in a blazer and confidently taking to the stage during an inter-school event.

‎With remarkable precision, he mimicked Ruto’s speech flow, trademark hand gestures, rhetorical pauses and commanding style of delivery, leaving the audience in laughter and applause.

‎The performance, staged at Limuru Girls’ High School during the festival last week, quickly gained traction online, gaining more than a million views across multiple platforms.

‎During the State House meeting, Ruto was seen watching the clip ‎of the now-famous performance on his phone and laughing heartily.

‎The Head of State later interacted with the student and members of the team before hosting them to lunch at State House.

‎The festival, which attracts students from schools across the country, is designed to nurture talent, creativity and inter-school engagement through drama, spoken word, music and public speaking.

‎At the event, the crowd, largely made up of students, initially appeared stunned by the accuracy of the impersonation before erupting into cheers and applause as the performer settled deeper into character.