By Anderson Ojwang
The once powerful provincial commissioner whose word was law and revered recently found himself on social media platforms on his knees, cursing his tongue.
The tongue which built, tormented, made and unmade when he was the provincial commissioner and later rode him to Sotik parliamentary seat and subsequently placed him in the House of Honours on Wednesday thrashed him into dishonour at the King’s Palace.
Before the people who elected him, the Honorable Sigei tripped and the tongue slipped, leaving the crowd and President William Ruto, who was also in attendance, baffled.
With nine months to the next year’s General Election and President Ruto in vote hunt, it never occurred to him that in his own backyard of Rift Valley and his own lieutenant in Parliament would publicly mention the word Wantam.
A word which was recently declared forbidden in Homa Bay and provocation to violence, a directive issued by Homa Bay MP Opondo Kaluma.
In the beginning
Sigei said he was excited over the visit and development projects by President Ruto that he was overwhelmed.
“Kidogo nilikuwa na shida ambaye siwezi kuitambua hapa. But wakati niliingia, nilijazwa na furaha tele, mpaka maneno ambayo nilitamka ilikuwa tofauti,” (Shortly, I found myself in a trouble that I cannot explain. When I went to the podium, I was over-excited and spoke words which were contrary,”) he said.
Sigei has apologised to President Ruto after making remarks at a rally in Bomet that were interpreted as endorsing the ‘WANTAM’ slogan associated with the opposition.
The Sotik lawmaker said he had already apologised to the President over the confusion.
He explained that the atmosphere during the rally had contributed to his choice of words, insisting that his intended message was to support Ruto’s re-election.
Sigei further explained the apparent contradiction between his hand gesture and the words he used while addressing the crowd.
The word
Sigei has apologised for his “one term” remark at President William Ruto’s rally in Kamureito, Bomet County, saying he misspoke due to excitement over the President’s visit to his constituency.
Sigei said the intended message was that Ruto deserves another term in office and not an endorsement of the “one term” slogan associated with the opposition.
The MP said he became elated after Ruto visited the area on Thursday to launch the construction of the Kipsonoi-Kamureito-Kapkelei Road, leading to the slip of the tongue.
“We had traversed various areas. I arrived late at the meeting when the event had already started, and there was too much excitement on my part that my tongue slipped,” Sigei said.
He insisted that his support for Ruto serving two terms was well known, saying he had never advocated for the President to serve only one term, either at public functions or during interviews with local radio stations.
I support the president
The MP said he had consistently opposed calls for Ruto to serve only one term, noting that he had previously cautioned his supporters against using the slogan.
“Mimi nimekuwa mstarini mbele, hata niliwaambia watu ya kwamba sitaki kusikia mtu ambaye anasema ‘one term’,” Sigei said.
He described the day as one of celebration following Ruto’s visit to the region and urged leaders and residents not to allow what he termed minor political issues to overshadow development activities.
“Leo ilikuwa siku ya amani, hatutaki mambo madogo ije kuharibu mambo ambaye ni makubwa,” he said.
Sigei thanked Ruto for visiting the area and launching development projects, while reaffirming his support for the President’s bid for a second term.
“Sisi watu wa Sotik tunasema President William Ruto aende term ya pili,” he said.
Sigei said his remarks should therefore not be interpreted as a change in his political position or an endorsement of the opposition campaign for Ruto to serve only one term.
Addressing the press shortly after the event, the first-term lawmaker apologised to the President, saying he remained firmly behind the two-term push.
“On behalf of the people of Sotik, I want to tell the President to forgive me for the slip of the tongue,” he said.
He clarified that the statement, saying the word “one” was not what he intended to say and that he meant to express support for Ruto’s bid to secure another term.
Loyalty pledge
On Friday, former Nairobi PC accompanied the President and waved a two-term salute.
“Today, I joined other leaders alongside H.E. President Dr William Samoei Ruto during the ongoing development tour of Kericho and Bomet Counties.
We toured the ongoing construction of Kapkatet Stadium and visited the Kapkatet Modern Market, assessing key development projects and their progress.
The tour proceeded to Kamureito, where H.E. the President launched the Kipsonoi–Kamureito–Sotik TTI Kapkelei–Makutano Junction Road, a major infrastructure project expected to improve connectivity and spur economic growth in the region.
I assured the President that Sotik and Bomet County are a TUTAM zone, reaffirming our unwavering support and commitment to standing with his development agenda.
The development tour continues. The work continues,” he wrote.
