By KPC Political Reporter
“Matiang’i twoma! Twoma Ruto!”
The chant, loosely translated: “Matiang’i push! Push Ruto!” was started a few months back by Kitutu Chache South legislator, Anthony Kibagendi, and it has quickly become his political tag.
Rhythmic and defiant, half song, half political war cry, these simple words have captured the imagination of Jubilee Party’s presidential candidate, Dr Fred Matiang’i, and by extension the originator, Kibagendi.
Metaphorically, the provocative words simply mean that President William Ruto can be pushed out of power in the next general election, and that Fred Matiang’i is the man to do it.
The first-time MP’s speeches are never complete without the slogan and, by the time Kibagendi steps to the microphone and lifts his hand, the crowd already knows its cue.
He sings the opening line, they finish it in thunderous unison, and this is repeated at the conclusion of his speech.
Before the last general election, Kibagendi was a trusted insider in Dr Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA), being in charge of Youth Affairs.
The position placed him close to Dr Ruto during the intense mobilisation period leading up to the 2022 General Election, only to defect and be elected on an ODM ticket.
Since his election, the first-timer in Parliament has been openly fighting the very man he once called boss, and that sharp turn is what defines Kibagendi’s political persona today as a restless, confrontational, and unapologetically combative politician.
Last week, he was arrested by the DCI in Nairobi and transported to Keroka to face assault charges, months after he allegedly assaulted a Kisii resident at an entertainment joint.
Following the arrest, Kibagendi turned to social media platforms including Facebook, where he wrote: “I have been aggressively blocked by DCI officers and arrested, being taken to DCI HQs,” and the message attracted thousands of comments.
One social media user, Robert Nyasato, wrote: “Nobody is above the law but when politics infiltrates the criminal justice system, it negates the constitution which espouses a free and just society.”
On Wednesday, Kibagendi and his close allies drove to Kisii Town where he addressed a massive and spontaneous gathering at the historic Capital Roundabout.
Historically, Kisii Town is a busy commercial area and it is not easy for a politician to cause such a disruption on a weekday, but for Kibagendi, it seemed to work and the slogan punctuated the air during his address.
His clashes extend beyond the streets and police stations into the heart of Parliament itself where, a few months ago, Kibagendi was involved in a heated exchange with Defence Cabinet Secretary (CS) Aden Duale over the controversial Social Health Authority (SHA) matter.
That day, the session to grill Duale escalated, tempers flared, and Kibagendi was thrown out of the House, a matter that made it to the headlines in a number of Kenyan dailies.
“Duale, you cannot intimidate me. I fear no one. We are not your children,” Kibagendi had charged, and the CS, equally coming across as no pushover, was uneasy in his seat.
Back in Kisii, Kibagendi had a physical confrontation with fellow MP Japheth Nyakundi at a public event, a moment that shocked colleagues and delighted political gossip circles.
As one would expect, videos from the event did several rounds on social media.
These incidents appear to project Kibagendi as aggressive and direct, frequently bashing President Ruto with language that leaves little room for ambiguity.
On radio and television interviews, he accuses the government of betrayal, economic mismanagement, and political arrogance, and his call is that Dr Ruto does not deserve another term in power.
Kibagendi’s alignment with Dr Fred Matiang’i has further cemented his position as a central mobiliser in the Gusii region.
He says that Dr Matiang’i, a son of the region and a former Interior Cabinet Secretary, represents to many what Ruto does not: firmness, structure, and familiarity.
What is undeniable is that, for a first-time MP, Kibagendi has achieved something many veterans struggle to manage: he has made himself central to the conversation.
Commenting on Kibagendi’s woes, Dr Matiang’i said that the government was trying to intimidate the legislator so that he would run away from his camp.
“They will intimidate my allies but they will not relent and we are on this journey to the end,” the former CS said.
Love him or loathe him, he commands attention in Kisii and beyond, and when he speaks, people listen.
When Kibagendi is arrested, people rant in his favour, and when he sings, they respond.
Perhaps only time will tell how far Kibagendi will sustain the tempo and how his detractors will go to tame him.