NAIROBI, Kenya — Nominated Senator Karen Nyamu has accused comedian Eric Omondi of orchestrating the “Wantam” chants that interrupted her address at an endometriosis awareness event at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).
Nyamu made the allegations on Monday, September 28, a day after sections of the crowd repeatedly chanted “Wantam” as she attempted to speak at Natalie Githinji’s Endometriosis Warriors event.
The slogan, short for “one term”, has been used in political calls for President William Ruto to serve only one term. Reports from the event confirmed that sections of the audience heckled Nyamu as she addressed thousands of attendees.
Nyamu said the event was supposed to focus on Githinji and raising awareness about endometriosis, but the attention had instead shifted to her following the incident.
“Yesterday was supposed to be about Natalie and Endo awareness. I wish she was trending today instead of me,” Nyamu said in a statement.
Nyamu Points At Omondi
Nyamu alleged that Omondi and the event’s master of ceremonies, Antonio, directed people at the back of the venue to chant when she took the stage.
She said she had noticed the two making several trips to the back of the venue before she began speaking.
“I believe Eric Omondi planned what happened when I took the stage,” Nyamu said, according to her statement.
She also pointed to Omondi’s introduction, during which he said the two did not agree politically, as what she interpreted as a possible cue for the crowd.
Nyamu’s allegation that Omondi orchestrated the chants is her own claim; available reports confirm the heckling but do not independently establish that he organised it.
Omondi has previously been vocal in his criticism of the government, and Nyamu had said before the event that she expected some backlash because of his association with the gathering.
Senator Brings Up Shalkido Incident
Nyamu also linked the KICC confrontation to an earlier incident involving the late Shalkido and a motorcycle.
She claimed Shalkido had approached her for a motorcycle and that she had arranged to provide one.
According to Nyamu, her personal assistant later failed to reach Shalkido when the motorcycle was ready for collection.
She said she subsequently saw videos of Omondi giving Shalkido a motorcycle.
Nyamu further claimed that Shalkido later appeared on the Obinna Show, where he thanked Omondi and accused her of having misled him while expressing support for “Wantam”.
The claims were made by Nyamu in her account of the events and were not independently established in the reports reviewed.
Nyamu Stands By Ruto
The nominated senator also used her statement to reaffirm her support for President Ruto.
Nyamu said she would not join the “Wantam” campaign, arguing that her political position remained firmly behind the President.
“I stand firmly behind President William Ruto because he is the only candidate I see with a clear plan for this country. I won’t join Wantam for a few cheap cheers,” she said.
She concluded by saying she would continue supporting Ruto and added: “Even God is Tutam.”
What Happened At KICC?
Nyamu attended Githinji’s Endometriosis Warriors event on Sunday, September 27, where thousands gathered for awareness and advocacy around endometriosis.
When she took the stage, sections of the audience began chanting “Wantam”, interrupting her remarks.
Despite the reaction, Nyamu continued speaking about her efforts in Parliament to push for greater attention to endometriosis.
She said she had given notice on September 10 to move a motion on the condition, which she described as affecting millions of women.
The incident quickly spread online, turning what was intended as an endometriosis awareness event into a major political talking point.
