Sifuna to Ruto: Wantam means finish your term and leave
By Valerian Khakayi, August 31, 2025Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has dismissed President William Ruto’s questions over the meaning of the opposition’s popular slogan wantam, saying it is a clear message directed to him (Ruto) to complete his term and vacate office in 2027.
Speaking during an empowerment forum in Funyula, Busia County, on Sunday, August 31, 2025, Sifuna said that just as Ruto rose to power by popularising the Hustler narrative, noting that the opposition would equally ride on the wantam slogan as its rallying call ahead of the next General Election.
He added that they would not be drawn into endless debates about the slogan’s meaning.
“Tunamwambia Ruto 2027 hatuelezani mambo ya sera,vile yeye alikuja akiimba ‘Hustler’, hata sisi tunakuja tukiimba Wantam. Wacha kutuuliza inamaanisha nini, inamaanisha maliza uende!“Sifuna said.
The ODM Secretary-General added that Ruto would grasp its full meaning once the camp behind the slogan takes power in 2027.
“Tutakupatia details mingi tukiwa State House,” he quipped.
Sifuna on Ruto’s claims
Additionally, Sifuna said Ruto recently claimed that Parliament was corrupt in an attempt to intimidate young legislators from the Kenya Moja coalition so that they would not push the wantam agenda.
He added that although senators lack the power to remove a Cabinet Secretary, they would pressure their counterparts in the National Assembly to impeach Health CS Aden Duale over alleged corruption at the Social Health Authority (SHA).
“Juzi Ruto alisema bungee iko corrupt, anatuita hivyo kwa sababu hii kikosi ya Kenya Moja vile mnaona ni ya viongozi ya wabunge wachanga hiyo story yote mulikuwa manasikia ilikuwa kututisha ndio tusikuje hapa kusema WANTAM,”he added.
“Sisi senators hatuna nguvu ya kutimua waziri, tunataka kushinikiza wenzetu kwenye national assembly watimue Duale kwa wizi unafanyika kwa SHA!“
SHA scandal
He also announced that members of the National Assembly have already collected signatures to file an impeachment motion against Duale over the alleged theft of billions at SHA.
“Sisi tunataka tumwambie vile wabunge wamesema hapa, sisi kwenye Senate hatuna nguvu za kumtoa. Lakini tunataka kuwashinikiza ni nyinyi ambao mko kwa National Assembly,” Sifuna said,
He added that the process was already in motion. “The signatures are ready. Once Parliament is back from recess, ensure the motion is brought to the floor,” he said.
Sifuna argued that Duale must take political responsibility for the scandals engulfing SHA. He criticised the ministry for frustrating ordinary Kenyans, particularly women, by delaying claim approvals while insiders allegedly enriched themselves.
“Hawa kina mama inawachukua muda mrefu before wafikishe mia tano ama elfu moja, alafu watu wamekaa uko tu kwa makompyuta wewe unaeka elfu moja hao wainaba uko Nairobi. Hio ni haki kweli?” he posed, loosely translated to: It takes mothers weeks to raise Ksh500 or Ksh1,000, yet people in Nairobi are sitting at computers entering fake claims of thousands. Is that fair?” he asked.