President William Ruto, on Saturday, January 7, was pictured carrying his own bag alongside other leaders during the Cabinet retreat in Nyeri County.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi also adopted the same trend, raising various public relations questions.
More Kenyans also wondered why Ruto's aide-de-camp (ADC), Colonel Fabian Lengusuranga, did not assist the President with his briefcase.
"Where is the Aide-de-Camp (ADC)?," one of the questions on whether the move was intentional or was a protocol hitch read.
Ordinarily, Aide-de-Camp (ADC) is expected to carry the president's bag, while other leaders are assisted by their bodyguards or personal assistants.
Security and public relations experts scrutinised the president's actions. Public Relations experts argued that the president sought to project a populist image.
"It appears the President does not want the 'almighty' tag but wants to align to his Hustlers Philosophy, which is all about the poor.
"He is trying to fit in with the rest as they discuss something. As you can see the aide de camp is nowhere close even the others dont have bodyguards," PR expert Tsar Newton told Kenyans.co.ke.
According to Newton, the President who campaigned on the hustler mantra was indicating that neither his personality nor philosophies had changed since taking over as the head of state.
On a number of occasions, Ruto was seen eating maize by the roadside or freely interacting with members of the public during his campaigns.
Kenyans, however, did not raise any security concerns since it was believed that Hotel Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club, where Ruto was leading the Cabinet retreat, was fairly secure.
During the retreat, Ruto was adamant on the need to cut down expenditures. He reportedly ordered his Cabinet Secretaries to send home their personal assistants or foot their bills from their own pockets.
“Why do you have to be accompanied by your PAs and other staff in this meeting?" he wondered.
He also turned away three principal secretaries (PSs) from the Cabinet meeting held at the Mount Kenya Safari Club after they arrived later than him.
