Wajir Woman Representative Fatuma Abdi Jehow was heckled by residents during a visit to Bute, Wajir North, on Monday, in what appeared to be her first trip to the county since she was elected in 2022.
Video footage circulating online showed Jehow arriving by helicopter before a convoy ferried her to address residents. Moments into her speech, sections of the crowd drowned her out with chants of “One Term,” signalling discontent with her leadership ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The reception revived anger over remarks Jehow made in July 2025, when she declared that North Eastern MPs were determined to secure a second term for President William Ruto regardless of the ballot count. “Sisi wabunge wa North Eastern maneno ya President, tunasema ‘tutam’, hata kama hatutakua na votes tutamwibia,” she said at the time, a statement widely translated as leaders vowing to steal votes for the president if necessary.
The remarks triggered outrage from civil society groups and calls for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to investigate, while opposition figures, including Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, cited them as evidence of alleged manipulation of voter registration in Northern Kenya.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has since moved to dismiss fears of rigging, insisting the IEBC cannot be influenced by politicians. “Commissioners are referees; they cannot favour anyone,” Kindiki said while campaigning in Kuria East, adding that the government would seek re-election on its development record rather than electoral interference.
Jehow’s tenure has drawn mixed reviews. The Mzalendo Trust parliamentary scorecard ranks her 209th out of 348 National Assembly members, with a low overall score of 19 out of 100, though she performed better on voting attendance. Polling has been similarly inconsistent: Infotrak placed her approval at 35 per cent, while Mizani Africa reported a rise to 61 per cent following recent relief and development projects in the county.
The Bute chants add to a broader “one-term” campaign gaining traction among opposition leaders, including Azimio’s Philip Kisia, Kalonzo Musyoka and Martha Karua, all of whom have publicly opposed a second Ruto term.
As political temperatures rise ahead of 2027, analysts say incidents like the one in Wajir suggest voters are increasingly willing to confront leaders they view as prioritising national political alliances over local accountability.
