By Anderson Ojwang
President William Ruto during his recent four-day tour of Nyanza stirred a storm with his remark to Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi and his Energy counterpart Opiyo Wandayi by using a Luo adjective “ti gi wiyi” (use your head).
President Ruto’s public proclamation and use of the adjective have stirred debate in the region, with residents making inferences that the president could have been taken aback by the experts’ lack of substantial development projects in the region.
In various forums, the residents have taken the President’s statement as an indictment of the duo for failing to initiate meaningful development in their region and instead waiting for him to give them directions on the projects to be implemented in the area.
The residents have accused the two cabinet secretaries of being too preoccupied and vocal on political matters and doing little in terms of development for the region.
President Ruto views Nyanza as a strategic vote bloc in his 2027 presidential re-election and has been launching multibillion projects to endear himself to the electorate.
For Ruto, after successfully taming the rebel groups in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) led by Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino and Siaya Governor James Orengo to hand over the party leadership to Dr Oburu Oginga and his allies, Mbadi and Wandayi should be his face of development in the region.
Ruto made history in his cabinet appointment during the formation of the broad-based government by making Mbadi the first Treasury cabinet secretary from the community, 60 years after independence.
Wandayi became the energy minister, the second after Migori Governor Ochilo Ayacko, who was appointed during the NDP-Kanu cooperation.
But during the tour, President Ruto came face to face with harsh reality during his engagement with the residents who requested projects, which could have been effectively handled by Mbadi and Wandayi.
“We previously had marginalization. You remember some areas were marginalized and forgotten. I have told Opiyo Wandayi tigi wiyi. I have told him tigi wiyi. I told him to use wiyi. The people of Migori, do you agree with that? There is not any other administration which put Sh28 billion in one year for development in Migori. It is only the broad-based government,” he said.
In Kasipul, Ruto also told Mbadi to use his head after area MP Boyd Were had made requests for tarmacking of a 16km Sikri road.
When Were spoke, he delved into developmental politics by first mentioning projects already undertaken by the national government before making further requests.
He asked the President to support the completion of…. “We are in Agoro Sare High School, the pride of Kasipul constituency and Homa Bay county. We inspected the school and you saw the ongoing multi-purpose hall. We kindly request your support,” he said.
Were also requested the construction of hostels for Sikri Polytechnic and Kenya Medical Training College in the area.
“Your Excellency, I am the last born in the family of broad-based. You know last borns get preferential treatment. Allow me to request for the 16km road from Lida to join Kasipul with Karachuonyo constituency,” he said.
Treasury Cabinet Secretary, Mbadi supported Were’s request for the tarmacking of the road.
“Your Excellency, the last born has made a request and I know you will not leave him empty-handed. If you give a go-ahead, I will look for money for the project,” he said.
President Ruto responded by granting the request and told Mbadi ti gi wiyi (use your head).
He told Mbadi to explain to CS Roads Davies Chirchir what the adjective meant in response to the MP’s request.
“When the last born asks for something, what do you do? You give, because young man, this is your first request, it is granted. I will give Sh30m to complete the multi-purpose hall and for the Sikri-Lida road, Cabinet Secretaries Davies Chirchir and John Mbadi, use your head,” Ruto said.
Wandayi and Mbadi after their appointment have embarked on a mission to be made the community kingpins, with both holding meetings with the Luo Council of Elders.
Mbadi recently declared that he was no longer interested in the governor and parliamentary seats and had his eyes on the presidency in 2032.
With 16 months to the general election, Mbadi and Wandayi may be President Ruto’s fault line in his pursuit of Luo votes.
