Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has suffered a fresh political dent after a popular Kalenjin singer who once backed his “Wantam” slogan made a dramatic U-turn and shifted allegiance to President William Ruto’s “Tutam” camp.
Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi confirmed the move in a Facebook post where he shared photos with the celebrated artist, Mali Safi Chito. In his message, Sudi said he always welcomes back those who had strayed, describing his political home as big enough to accommodate everyone willing to rally behind the head of state. “Karibu nyumbani, Mali Safi Chito,” Sudi wrote as he unveiled her defection. See post here.
In the photo, the singer is seen flashing the “Tutam” hand sign alongside Sudi, signaling her shift to Ruto’s re-election bid. She was also dressed in a bright yellow jacket, a color that has become synonymous with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), leaving little doubt about where her loyalty now lies.
This move is a major setback for Gachagua, who has been banking on cultural endorsements and symbolic chants like “Wantam” to build grassroots momentum in Mt Kenya and beyond. Having a Kalenjin artist cross over to the rival slogan not only boosts Ruto’s optics but also weakens the perception that Gachagua still enjoys wide cultural influence outside his home turf.
Observers say the defection could inspire other musicians and influencers, especially from the Rift Valley, to realign with the president’s camp. With 2027 politics already heating up, every symbol, song, and slogan is being treated as a potential weapon in the battle for numbers.
For Gachagua, the defection is more than just optics, it reflects the growing cracks in his “Wantam” movement and signals that Ruto’s allies like Sudi are determined to neutralize him at every turn.
By Nairobi