Wanjigi: Why I don’t support Tutam or Wantam
By Mabonga Makhanu, June 2, 2026Safina Party presidential candidate Jimmy Wanjigi has declared his stance amid the Wantam and Tutam political rhetoric that is increasingly shaping the road to the 2027 general election.
While speaking during a Mombasa town hall meeting on Monday, June 1, 2026, the businessman-turned-politician dismissed the two rhetorics, arguing that they have little significance to the common mwananchi who are grappling with the high cost of living and other economic challenges.
“Wantam Tutam then what, ukitoa Ruto, nini itafanyika baada ya hio? mkitoa mwizi alafu mrudishe mwizi, mtaakuwa mmepata nini? mtaambia ata yeye wantam, wale wanasema wantam niko na wao, lakini wacha niwaulize baada ya wantam wananchi wataishi namna gani?” Wanjigi posed.
He went ahead to pose a simple but critical question: “Tutam and Wantam, then what?” Wanjigi stated that anyone who declares themselves to be on either side of the two political slogans must first tell Kenyans what they intend to do after assuming the country’s top seat.
Wanjigi’s stance
He stated that although he supports the Wantam movement and agrees that President William Ruto needs to step down in 2027, the bigger question remains: who should replace him. According to Wanjigi, it would be insane to remove Ruto from office only to replace him with a person who is more or less the same as him and who will continue doing what the current regime is perpetrating.
Wanjigi, who has been particularly vocal about Kenya’s debt situation, reiterated that under his administration, he would not pay what he terms “odious debt”. He urged Kenyans to carefully scrutinise anyone seeking their votes, arguing that any leader who fails to address the debt crisis and offer practical solutions to it is simply misleading the public.
Want to, then what?
His remarks touch on a question that has increasingly been bedevilling the opposition, which has been at the forefront of championing anti-incumbency Wantam chants against the current regime. While opposition leaders have maintained that removing President William Ruto from office is the first step towards fixing the country, critics have continued to ask what their alternative plan for Kenya would look like.
However, leaders aligned to the movement have consistently argued that nearly 80 per cent of Kenya’s current problems stem from President William Ruto’s leadership. According to them, once he is removed from office, they will then sit down and craft a roadmap on how they intend to lead the nation.
Sifuna’s view
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Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, who is also the team leader of Linda Mwananchi, has also jumped into the conversation. The outspoken ODM secretary-general has stated that anybody who supports the Wantam movement has his backing regardless of their political affiliation.
Sifuna reiterated that all he wants is to see William Ruto out of power, arguing that the country cannot afford another five years under his leadership. According to him, that is why those subscribing to the Wantam movement are determined to ensure the current head of state does not secure a second term.