The crowd, chanting “Ruto must go” and “Wantam” — slang for “one term” — interrupted speeches and demanded answers over the government’s performance.
The dramatic scene unfolded in a rural hilly part of Meru where hundreds of locals had gathered under large tents.
Tempers flared as speaker after speaker expressed frustration over the high cost of living, rising taxes, and what many described as the government’s failure to deliver on its promises.
The situation reached a boiling point when Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, who had attended the event as the chief guest, was forced to cut short his speech.
His attempts to calm the crowd were drowned out by chants that echoed across the field, sending a clear message of discontent from his own backyard.
Residents accused the government of offering “political relief packages” instead of genuine solutions to economic hardship.
“We are hungry, jobless, and tired of empty promises,” one resident shouted before the microphone was snatched away by security officers trying to restore order.
Political analysts say the incident is a warning sign for the Kenya Kwanza government, especially in Mt. Kenya, a region that strongly supported Ruto in 2022.
The “Wantam” slogan, they note, may reflect a growing shift in public sentiment as economic frustration takes precedence over political loyalty.
As videos of the protest spread rapidly online, government officials remained silent.
But for many Kenyans, the uproar in Meru symbolizes a deepening sense of betrayal among ordinary citizens who once believed in the promise of change.
The chants may fade, but the message from Meru remains loud and clear — the people are running out of patience.
