A video showing two men openly chewing miraa while seated on plastic chairs at State House has triggered strong reactions online, with Kenyans divided over what the scene says about the changing image of the country’s highest seat of power.
The short clip shows the two men sitting on the State House lawn, speaking in Sheng while holding water bottles and chewing miraa. One of them is also seen carrying a brown bag believed to contain miraa-related items, popularly referred to as “Alele Mtoto.”
In the video, one of the men confidently addresses the camera, appearing excited about being at State House.
“Aloo, nani amewai kulia veve State House? Leo tunashikia State House. Mambo ya mtaa tumewacha. Mambo ni vulai! Mambo ni tutam! It’s not illegal!” he says.
The men appear relaxed, with no sign that they consider their activity unusual. Behind them are large numbers of white plastic chairs arranged across the State House lawn, suggesting that an event had recently taken place.
The footage has raised questions about how guests are handled within the highly protected presidential compound.
For many years, State House has been viewed as a place governed by strict protocol, security measures and formal conduct because of its association with the presidency.
Some Kenyans therefore feel that the scenes in the video represent a decline in the dignity traditionally associated with the “House on the Hill.”
They have questioned how visitors were able to enter the compound with miraa and record casual videos while engaging in an activity that would normally be considered unusual at such a venue.
One X user described the incident as a breakdown of presidential decorum, saying State House had previously been seen as a highly restricted institution.
Another user, Juma Gathoni, questioned how security personnel could allow visitors to carry stimulants into the compound and described the situation as disrespectful to the office of the President.
However, not everyone viewed the incident negatively. Some Kenyans argued that opening State House to ordinary citizens shows a more accessible presidency. They noted that miraa is a legal cash crop in Kenya and said its consumption should not automatically be treated as criminal behaviour.
Supporters also argued that State House is maintained using public funds and should not be viewed as a place reserved only for politicians and influential individuals.
The debate has therefore gone beyond the two men in the video. It has raised a wider question about how Kenyans expect State House to balance accessibility with the dignity and protocol attached to the presidency.
While the authenticity and full circumstances surrounding the video remain unclear, the reaction shows how closely Kenyans watch activities taking place within the presidential compound.
