A short video of African presidents lining up for ice cream offered by Russian President Vladimir Putin has become one of the most talked-about clips on Kenyan social media this weekend, with President William Ruto's appearance in the footage drawing both ridicule and defence online.

The clip was recorded during the third Russia-Africa Summit and Economic and Humanitarian Forum in Moscow, which ran from October 28 to 29. According to Citizen Digital and The Standard's TNX Africa, it shows heads of African delegations queueing at a stand serving traditional Russian ice cream that Putin offered as a gift while touring an exhibition hall with his guests.

What the video shows

In the footage, leaders and dignitaries wait their turn at the stand as cameras roll. Reports say Putin first picked an ice cream for himself before stepping aside as his guests took turns. President Ruto is seen at the stand with the other leaders, which quickly made the clip a talking point among Kenyans.

The ice cream was part of a wider hospitality programme put together by the hosts. TNX Africa reported that a café run by the Russian state broadcaster RT served drinks with Africa-themed names such as "Hakuna MaLatte" and "Africano".

The summit brought together delegations from about 48 African countries, among them some 20 heads of state. Talks focused on trade, investment, energy, security, food security and technology, including Russian grain and fertiliser supplies and African exports such as tea, coffee and horticultural produce.

Kenyans divided

Much of the reaction on X and Facebook has been critical. Many users argued that the scene was unbecoming of heads of state at a summit billed as a partnership of equals, with one user quoted by Citizen Digital saying the stand "subtly reinforces unequal power dynamics" and another describing the optics as "just painful".

Others compared the picture of leaders enjoying treats in Moscow with the economic hardship at home, where inflation rose to 7.3 per cent in October. Some users also brought up President Ruto's past complaints about African leaders being treated with little dignity at international meetings.

Not everyone was offended. Some Kenyans saw the moment as harmless and said presidents are entitled to small pleasures during long summits. TNX Africa quoted one user who joked that the moment was a reminder to enjoy life "before it melts".

No official word

Neither State House nor the Kremlin had commented on the video by Saturday evening.

The clip has gone viral at a time when the President's Moscow trip is already under close watch at home. During the visit, Ruto said he had secured Putin's commitment to stop the recruitment of Kenyans into the Russian army and to handle compensation for affected families, an issue that has troubled many households in recent months.

For his critics, though, it is the ice cream picture rather than the diplomatic statements that has stuck, showing again how a few seconds of footage can shape public opinion of a foreign trip.

Photos: Citizen Digital; The Standard/TNX Africa (video still). Thumbnail design: HAMASTA MEDIA.