Content creator Eddie Butita expressed his excitement after meeting American television host Steve Harvey during President William Ruto’s state visit to the United States. Butita, who was part of the entourage accompanying the president, described the encounter as a dream come true.
During a visit to the Tyler Perry Studio in Atlanta on Tuesday, where they met the renowned TV host and comedian, Steve Harvey acknowledged Butita by saying, “I saw you on YouTube.” This moment marked a significant milestone for Butita, who had long aspired to meet Harvey.
“Thank you Mr President for this honorable connection. Meeting Steve Harvey has been a dream for the past 14 years, today it has become a reality,” Butita said.
Butita shared that he and Harvey had productive discussions about enhancing the showbiz industry in Kenya. They talked about ways to equip and train talents for business success in the entertainment field, emphasizing the importance of both the “show” and the “business” aspects of showbiz.
“We had great conversations on how to equip and train talents for business success in showbiz; it is show and business and I’m happy our creatives are factored in these conversations,” Butita remarked.
Before departing for the US, Butita expressed his gratitude and excitement for the opportunity provided by President Ruto. He appreciated being included in the head of state’s delegation, highlighting the significance of involving the creative industry in such high-level discussions.
“I’m leaving for the USA today. Thank you, His Excellency President William Samoei Ruto, for choosing me to accompany you to the United States of America state visit hosted by the USA President, His Excellency President Joe Biden,” Butita stated. “The fact that I’m part of the head of the state delegation is a clear sign, and we are happy that the creative industry is part of the conversations we are going to have during this trip.”
This meeting with Harvey is not Butita’s first interaction with President Ruto. In March, Butita humorously advised the president to monetize his Facebook page to increase his earnings. During a meeting at State House with the Facebook Management Team on monetization, Butita said, “Last year Mr President, you mentioned that I earn more than your salary. I think this year you will overtake me because you have a Facebook page; all you need to do is monetize it.”
The comedian playfully suggested that following his advice would help the president make “some good money after tax,” noting Ruto’s claim in 2023 that Butita was earning more from content creation than the president’s official salary.
