WATCH: Ruto's Phone Call With Viral Little Girl Disappointed Over School Reopening
A video clip of 4-year-old Tinsley Nduta complaining about the change in directive went viral on social media.
Viral Tea Ke Writer 
President William Ruto on Sunday, May 12 held an eight-minute phone conversation with TikToker Mama Tinsley, whose daughter appeared to express disappointment over the school reopening in a clip that went viral.
Just moments after President Ruto announced on Wednesday, May 8 that all schools would reopen on Monday, May 13, a video clip of 4-year-old Tinsley Nduta complaining about the change in directive went viral on social media.
The Head of State then went on to track down the four-year-old's mother, a businesswoman who owns a wines and spirits shop and who was featured in the video, after the girl told the President that she had not prepared to go to school.
Here is the video:
Yesterday, HE Kenya One Dr. Ruto called and had a telephone conversation with a young girl I posted while crying upon hearing the news of schools reopening.https://t.co/Wy9w6k4x0n pic.twitter.com/5tELTsLM4l — Mike Sonko (@MikeSonko) May 13, 2024
"I have been looking for you because I saw your daughter complain about school reopening. I thought it wise to look for her and try to explain the reason for returning to school," Ruto began his phone call to Mama Tinsley.
"She had heard that school reopening was suspended until further notice and was shocked when we revealed the date."
The whole conversation captured in the eight-minute clip was shared by Mama Tinsley on her TikTok account.
Turning to Tinsley, the Head of State reiterated the importance of all individuals to go to school so as to achieve their goals in the future.
He further told Tinsley that school was the only way for her to learn new things and subjects that could help her in the future.
"When I saw that you asked why Ruto has said that you should go back to school, I decided to call you so that I explain why you have to go to school," Ruto told Tinsley on the phone.
"You have to go to school because it is important that every child in Kenya, the law says, must go to school. Every parent must take their children to school because it is the only way we can impart knowledge, you can learn new things and subjects that can help you in the future. Your mother and just like me we have gone to school so that we can do the things that we are doing."
When asked about what she wanted to be in the future, Tinsley said that she did not know at that moment before the president told her that she would know if she went to school.
The Head of State asked Tinsley to prepare to go to school and promised to see her this Friday.
In the viral video, the young girl was captured crying while saying, "Ruto amesema tunarudi shule (told us to go back to school)."
President Ruto announced last week that schools would resume for Term Two on Monday, May 13, a move that was attributed to advisories issued by the Kenya Meteorological Department on the heavy rains which were predicted to reduce in intensity.
Schools were meant to reopen on Monday, May 6, having been postponed initially on Monday, May 29 owing to the flooding crisis in the country which has since claimed 238 lives and left nearly 2,000 schools in ruins.
Floods affecting Mathare slums on April 24, 2024. /RACHAEL MWIKALI
