A sudden blackout briefly interrupted William Ruto’s speech at LUISS School of Government in Rome, but the President quickly turned the moment into humour, drawing laughter from the audience while maintaining composure.
The incident occurred as Ruto addressed students and scholars during his official visit to Italy, speaking on Kenya’s future and Africa’s place in the global order. The lecture brought together policymakers, academics and young leaders for discussions on governance, development and international cooperation.
Midway through his remarks, the lights abruptly went out, briefly halting the session and plunging the room into darkness. What could have been an awkward pause was quickly diffused by the President’s wit.
A video widely shared online captures his immediate reaction. As the blackout hit, Ruto quipped, “May be I shouldn’t have said ‘now’!”
The remark drew laughter from the audience, easing tension as the disruption remained brief. Before proceedings resumed, he added, “Okay, somebody is working on something. Just wait for a minute.”
The moment a blackout interrupted President William Ruto’s speech at Luiss University in Rome, Italy, briefly bringing the address to a halt before power was restored. pic.twitter.com/49WKDT939V
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Moments later, a man in a suit approached and whispered something to him.
Picking up seamlessly, Ruto continued, “Yes, I think we are there and my point was, we need to correct the imbalance of failure sooner than later,” he said as the man walked away.
Despite the interruption, the President remained calm and composed, resuming his address with confidence before the international audience. Footage from the event shows normalcy was quickly restored.
Ruto’s appearance at the university formed part of a broader schedule of diplomatic engagements in Italy, marking the second day of his three-day visit. His itinerary includes high-level meetings focused on investment, infrastructure development and climate action.
The Rome address also served as a platform to engage with young intellectual communities in Europe, reinforcing Kenya’s outreach on global issues. During his speech, the President called for reforms to the global financial system, arguing that current structures continue to disadvantage developing economies, particularly in Africa.
“More than ever before, a more just, balanced and responsive global financial system is an absolute imperative,” Ruto said.