President William Ruto has trivialized the viral “Wantam” chants, describing them as a recurring part of Kenya’s political history that does not faze him.
Speaking while attending the Meru ASK show, on Saturday, June 21, Ruto dismissed the "Ruto must go" slogan popular among opposition circles as an empty rhetoric that offers no solutions to the country's pressing issues.
The President, in a jibe directed to his former deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, accused the opposition leaders of lacking a clear development agenda, with their only focus being his ouster from office.
Ruto stated, “Hawa watu wengine hawana mpango. Ati mpango yao ni Wantam na Ruto must go, must go itasaidia wakenya na nini?”
Simply translates to, "These other people have no plan. Their so-called plan is just 'Ruto must go', how will that Kenyans ?"
“Hujui vile vijana wetu watapata kazi, hujui vile kilimo itaendelea, hujui vile watoto watasoma... You have no plan to do anything.”
" You don’t know how our youth will get jobs, you don’t know how agriculture will progress, you don’t know how children will go to school...You have no plan to do anything."
He stressed that his administration remains focused on key priorities such as youth employment, agricultural productivity, affordable education, and access to healthcare.
“Ya muhimu ni vile vijana watapata kazi, vile kilimo itatupatia kazi, vile watoto wetu watasoma, vile matibabu itapatikana. That is what is important to us as a country,” he said.
Ruto made it clear that he does not lose sleep over political chants or trending songs on social media. Instead, he called on Kenyans to shift their attention from political sideshows and focus on building the nation.
Brushing off personal criticism, the president said he remains unmoved by the nicknames critics often hurl at him.
He emphasised that his mission is to fix critical sectors in Kenya, including education, infrastructure, electrification, and devolution. Ruto also welcomed contributions from all leaders, regardless of political affiliation, saying his goal is to unite the country and drive it toward prosperity.
He urged both leaders and citizens to remain focused on what truly matters — transforming lives and building a stronger Kenya.
Meanwhile, Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is also in Meru County as the opposition consolidates support to unseat the incumbent president.
Speaking on Friday, June 20, 2025, during a rally in Nkubu, the Former Dp accused Ruto of attempting to derail the unity of the Ameru by driving a wedge between the larger Mt. Kenya.
“Kasongo has persecuted and betrayed the Ameru people. He wanted to kick out Martha Koome from the office, he chased Japheth Koome from the police, and he is also harassing other children from this region,” he stated.
The politician further faulted the president for diverting important projects from the Meru region despite them fully backing his presidential bid.
In his offensive charm to the Ameru, Gachagua laid bare the bone of contention between him and the president, emphasising that his fallout was occasioned by fighting for the unity of the region.
“The reason why I was chased from the government is because I refused to join him in the killing of children as a Christian and the husband of a pastor. He also wanted to divide the mountain. He wanted the Ameru people and the Gikuyu to be separated. I warned him that we could agree with that. Therefore, I want you to remain united. We are one as Mt. Kenya, and if we get divided, we will be hunted down like a deer,” he implored the masses.
The Meru rally marks the latest stop in Gachagua’s extensive campaign across Kenya, following engagements in Ukambani, the Coast, and Central Kenya.
