“If You Tell Me ‘Wantam’, I Ask – What Am I Supposed To Do?” Kioni Mocks Opposition Slogan

Jubilee Party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni has dismissed the popular opposition slogan “Wantam,” describing it as weak and poorly thought out.

Speaking during a radio interview, Kioni said the phrase, which the united opposition has been using as a rallying call, has not achieved its intended impact.

According to him, the slogan has instead given the government more confidence rather than putting it on the defensive.

Kioni argued that the Constitution already provides for elected leaders to serve only one five-year term at a time.

For this reason, he said telling a leader “Wantam” at the end of their term is meaningless, since it is already obvious they must leave office.

“If you tell me that once my term ends I should go, I will ask you—what else am I supposed to do? It is already clear to everyone that office must be vacated,” he explained.

The former Ndaragwa MP further said that while many Kenyans celebrated the slogan, in reality it carried no political weight.

In his view, it has only made President William Ruto’s government appear more comfortable and even arrogant.

Kioni pointed out that in recent weeks, the government has openly invited delegations to State House—something it had avoided earlier when Gen Z protesters threatened to occupy the residence. 

He believes the introduction of “Wantam” made the regime less worried and more willing to project openness.

“So what happened after Wantam? The Ruto government grew comfortable. They became bold and started doing things they were avoiding before,” Kioni said.

He compared the slogan with the actions of Gen Z activists, whose protests and demands had, in his words, “no comebacks” from the state.

Unlike those youth-driven campaigns, Kioni said the opposition’s slogans were too easy for the government to counter.

He cited the government’s quick response by coining its own phrase, “Tutam,” which has already overshadowed “Wantam” in political debates.

Despite its shortcomings, the slogan remains popular among opposition supporters.

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua even showcased it during his recent trip to Silicon Valley, where he penned the phrase at Meta headquarters.