Speaking during a radio interview on Tuesday, Kioni said the slogan, which was intended to warn the government that it would only serve one term, ended up producing the opposite effect.
According to him, rather than putting pressure on State House, it gave the leadership a sense of comfort.
“The whole idea of ‘Wantam’ was to tell the regime they will not get a second term. But what happened is the opposite. Ruto and his people now feel relaxed and are even more confident in how they run things,” Kioni explained.
“The whole idea of ‘Wantam’ was to tell the regime they will not get a second term. But what happened is the opposite. Ruto and his people now feel relaxed and are even more confident in how they run things,” Kioni explained.
He argued that before the slogan became popular, the government appeared cautious in its decisions and public engagements.
However, he claimed that the political environment has since changed, with State House now hosting delegations openly and operating without the level of political pressure that existed earlier.
Kioni compared the impact of the slogan to the Gen Z protests of 2024, which he described as more effective in challenging the government.
He said the demonstrations created real concern within the leadership because they were driven by clear grievances rather than political messaging.
“The youth directly confronted the state, and those actions shook the government because there was no quick response to neutralize them. But with ‘Wantam,’ the government easily countered it with their own phrase, ‘Tutam,’ meaning they intend to serve two terms,” he said.
The former Ndaragwa Member of Parliament also admitted that the opposition lost momentum after the Limuru III meeting.
“The youth directly confronted the state, and those actions shook the government because there was no quick response to neutralize them. But with ‘Wantam,’ the government easily countered it with their own phrase, ‘Tutam,’ meaning they intend to serve two terms,” he said.
The former Ndaragwa Member of Parliament also admitted that the opposition lost momentum after the Limuru III meeting.
At that time, he noted, the message “Ruto Must Go” had energized many supporters, especially in the Mt. Kenya region.
However, he said the opposition later shifted from mobilizing around key national issues to relying mainly on slogans.
According to Kioni, this change weakened the movement and caused some Kenyans to lose confidence in the opposition’s strategy.
“Instead of staying focused on issues affecting citizens, we became distracted. Slogans replaced serious action, and people began questioning our direction,” he said.
Kioni also responded to critics who claim that Jubilee has become weak. He defended the party, stating that its members remain committed to their political ideals, although he acknowledged that mistakes were made in strategy and coordination.
Meanwhile, President William Ruto has dismissed claims that he will serve only one term. Speaking during the launch of the Mukuru Housing Project, the head of state urged leaders to concentrate on development rather than early political campaigns.
Ruto emphasized that issues such as hunger, education, and economic growth should take priority, saying that the government’s focus remains on improving the lives of ordinary Kenyans rather than engaging in political battles.
According to Kioni, this change weakened the movement and caused some Kenyans to lose confidence in the opposition’s strategy.
“Instead of staying focused on issues affecting citizens, we became distracted. Slogans replaced serious action, and people began questioning our direction,” he said.
Kioni also responded to critics who claim that Jubilee has become weak. He defended the party, stating that its members remain committed to their political ideals, although he acknowledged that mistakes were made in strategy and coordination.
Meanwhile, President William Ruto has dismissed claims that he will serve only one term. Speaking during the launch of the Mukuru Housing Project, the head of state urged leaders to concentrate on development rather than early political campaigns.
Ruto emphasized that issues such as hunger, education, and economic growth should take priority, saying that the government’s focus remains on improving the lives of ordinary Kenyans rather than engaging in political battles.
Hello, my name is Yoruba. I'm a 25 year old self-employed blogger from the Africa.
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