Gachagua Faces Resistance in Kajiado as “Tutam” Chants Drown Out Opposition Rally
- The Kenyan Watch
- Oct 4, 2025
- 1 min read
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s visit to Kajiado County took an unexpected turn when residents responded with vocal resistance, chanting “Tutam!”—a direct rebuke to the opposition’s popular “Wantam” slogan, which implies President William Ruto will serve only one term.
Gachagua, accompanied by fellow United Opposition leaders, had hoped to rally support ahead of the 2027 elections. Instead, a section of the crowd made their stance clear, flashing two fingers and chanting “Tutam! Tutam! Tutam!”—signaling their intent to re-elect Ruto for a second term, extending his leadership to a full decade.
Despite the setback, Gachagua remains a prominent presidential hopeful within the opposition coalition, which also includes Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper), Martha Karua (People Liberation Party), and former Interior CS Fred Matiang’i. While the coalition has yet to settle on a flagbearer, Gachagua has repeatedly asserted his readiness to challenge Ruto, claiming he’s best positioned to make him a one-term president.
The rally also exposed internal tensions, with Matiang’i notably absent—fueling speculation about fractures within the opposition and the looming challenge of uniting behind a single candidate.
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