Liz Jackson's Role In Viral Video Of Ruto Waving At Journalist

SPM Buzz reporter, Liz Jackson, has disclosed her little-known role in a viral video which captured President William Ruto recognising and greeting her colleague, Betty Kithinji alias Miss Kithinji, during the inauguration ceremony on Tuesday, September 13.

Speaking to the Nation on Wednesday, November 23, the 23-year-old journalist noted that she was the one recording the entire proceedings when the Eddie Butita-owned media house deployed both of the reporters to cover the highly-anticipated national event at Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi.

She was responding to a question of whether the viral video involving her interaction with Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary (CS) Alfred Mutua at State House on Wednesday, November 9 was her first one.

This did come with a blessing as the media house began receiving more invitations to cover presidential events, among others, a rarity for an online media house doing the work that would be so common with Kenya's mainstream media.

"The video with the CS is not the first video that trended; my colleague, Miss Kithinji, was trending during the inauguration of President William Ruto after the president waved at her and I was the one recording that moment. After that, we started getting invitations to cover State House events and government events," she noted.

In terms of how Liz ended up covering the media address by President Ruto and his South African counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa, Liz revealed that she received an invite 40 minutes before the event was to start.

"I went to State House, but I was very scared and up until I got into the gate, I did not even know what was happening. I asked my colleagues what was happening, and they filled me in, and I started to research questions to ask.

"President William Ruto and Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa arrived, and they went inside the State House. We remained outside and the sun was very hot that day. If you see my pictures my makeup was even off," she added.

Following their address, the two Heads of States had opened the floor to questions, with Liz unexpectedly challenging them with regards to arts and entertainment, in response to their agreement to lift the visa requirements between the two countries, meaning Kenyans will travel to South Africa visa-free for up to 90 days a year.

Despite taking note of laughter from an individual in attendance, the CS had acknowledged her question when he turned back from the front seat he was seated on in apparent acknowledgement.

Her day was to even turn brighter when President Ruto, amongst the collection of questions from journalists, opted to respond to hers first.

In a previous interview, Miss Kithinji noted that she had slipped as she did her outro because she was unsure that President Ruto was greeting her intentionally.

“We prepared days in advance for the swearing-in ceremony, on how we will cover the event. Being an online media house, content is posted in real time so we all have to be in coordination with each other.

"The call time to the stadium for journalists was 4 am. I slept for only two hours being a late-night sleeper. The entire stadium was my workplace on that day. I was on the lookout for anything that could pass for news and entertainment,” she said.

She went on to reveal that as the swearing event began winding down, she prepared to do their outro- the presentation of the conclusion to the media house's event coverage- and especially wanted to capture President Ruto in his special armoured vehicle.

“It was time to do the SPM Buzz outro since the event was done, so we looked for a strategic background to shoot and the president in his special vehicle appeared perfect.

"On finishing my narration, I turned just to watch the motorcade and that’s when he raised a thumbs up and I waved back. Totally an unexpected moment!” she added.

She noted that it didn't strike her at the time because she was unsure that the President was waving at her before her colleague assured her that he did. On going back to the office, she confirmed that it was her that President Ruto waved at.

Keep doing what you love, because even President William Ruto will be watching@miss_kithinji @spmbuzzke#ViralVideos pic.twitter.com/DP5tzw8ypO — Viral Tea Ke (@ViralTeaKe) September 14, 2022