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• Fri May 30 2025

A Kenyan caused a frenzy under a tweet authored in Swahili by the official X account of Pope Leo XIV

The pope had addressed a message to the Catholics in Africa, appreciating their commitment to the ways of Christ

It is below the tweet that the cheeky Kenyan played some small politics, inviting the pope to the anti-President William Ruto sentiment that has taken over the Kenyan internet for a while

Kenyans on the internet are known to be an ungovernable lot with peculiarity that knows no boundaries.

Pope Leo XIV waves at the Catholic faithful from the balcony of St Peter's Basilica for the first time after his election on May 8. Photo: Tizian Fabi.

Source: Getty Images

They are known to be among the most active internet users, using the platforms to transcend borders and engage those they would not ordinarily have the chance to.

How Kenyan invaded Pope Leo XIV's message

Currently, Kenyans have leveraged social media to challenge President William Ruto's regime, using all the platforms they can reach to discredit it.

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One of them recently took advantage of Pope Leo XIV's expansive audience to jibe at Ruto.

The pope had addressed his message to the Catholics in Africa using the Kiswahili language.

He appreciated the faithful's continued stay in the ways of Christ, saying they were a manifestation of a faithful called by God to serve Him.

Whilst the papal message was purely divine, the said Kenyan, using the @Mapinduzi handle, went off on a tangent to play politics.

Under it, he typed "Baba Mtakatifu sema wantam" (Holy Father say Wantam).

"Wantam" is a corruption of "one term", which Ruto's opponents have been using to champion their mission of unseating him in 2027.

How Kenyans reacted to "wantam" tweet on Pope Leo's X account

@Mapinduzi's unforeseen deviation from the papal message elicited hilarious reactions from his fellow countrymen, most of whom appreciated that Kenyans can't be tamed on the interwebs.

See some of the reactions below;

"Kenyans are just ungovernable," said Kayo Cyrus.

"Hey Kenyans, you are everywhere causing chaos," said Mike Archman.

"Random Kenyan vibes," Kim Newton.

"You are everywhere," Am Angiel.

"You people are already here," Omondi.

"I have never laughed this way," Peter Griffin.

"What is always the problem with Kenyans?" Njuthe Peter.

"How did you people reach here?" Kanji One.

"Haaha..Really Kenyan," Schola Nimo.

"I am not surprised, Kenyans," Barny Mtula.

As previously reported, the "wantam" lingo has been adopted by the critics of Ruto, who are eager for his removal from office.

President William Ruto in a past address to the country; his regime has grown unpopular among a good section of Kenyans. Photo: William Ruto.

Source: Facebook

Where did "Wantam" come from?

It is derived from "one term," a phrase popularised by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who is currently mobilising public support for his mission to unseat Ruto once his first term ends in 2027.

Discontent with Ruto?s administration has intensified due to several issues, including the high cost of living, rising national debt, rampant corruption, an ineffective executive, and recent allegations of abductions and extrajudicial actions by state agents targeting dissenters.

Leading the opposition against Ruto is Gachagua, whose fallout with the president culminated in his (Gachagua's) impeachment last October.

Following his removal from office, Gachagua, once a close ally of Ruto, launched a campaign against the president, arguing that he was unfit to lead the country.

The former deputy president frequently claimed that Ruto governed through deceit, this as Ruto countered by accusing him (Gachagua) of tribalism, incompetence, and a lack of leadership qualities.

Source: TUKO.co.ke