In Kenya, politics has become a space where every word is weighed, every gesture is interpreted, and sometimes, every mistake is treated as betrayal.
A recent incident involving Sotik Member of Parliament Francis Sigei at President William Ruto’s rally in Bomet has once again brought this question to mind: Are we not entitled to have our independent opinions?
According to reports published on September 10 and 11, 2026, Sigei appeared to say “one term” while addressing President Ruto during a rally. The remark was interpreted as endorsing the opposition’s “WANTAM” slogan. He later apologised and clarified that he meant “one more term,” attributing the confusion to excitement during the President’s visit. He reaffirmed his support for Ruto’s second term.
But beyond the apology lies a much bigger question about our political culture.
Must every opinion be approved by those in power?
Imagine a country where supporting a leader is acceptable, but questioning that leader is considered disloyalty.
Imagine a country where a politician cannot express a different view without first calculating the consequences.
Imagine a country where citizens are expected to clap when leaders speak, agree when leaders decide, and remain silent when they disagree.
Is that the democracy we fought for?
Kenya is a democratic country. Democracy is not simply about voting every five years. It is also about the freedom to think, question, disagree, and express an opinion without intimidation.
An independent opinion is not automatically an act of rebellion.
A politician can support President Ruto today and disagree with one of his policies tomorrow. A citizen can appreciate a road project and still question the cost of living. A supporter can believe in a leader’s vision without agreeing with everything that leader says.
These positions are not contradictions. They are part of being human.
The Sigei incident and the fear of political interpretation
Let us be fair to Francis Sigei.
He explained himself, apologised to the President, and reaffirmed his support for a second term. We cannot know his private intentions beyond what he has publicly explained.
But the incident raises an important concern.
If a single phrase, whether intentional or accidental, can create such political unease, what does that tell us about the freedom leaders feel they have to speak?
Political loyalty should not mean surrendering one’s voice.
We should be able to distinguish between a genuine political position and a mistake. We should also be able to distinguish between criticism and disrespect.
Not every disagreement is an attack.
Not every question is an insult.
Not every different opinion is an attempt to bring down a government.
Are we creating a culture of political fear?
Sometimes, I wonder whether we have allowed politics to become too personal.
We defend leaders as if they are family members. We attack people simply because they support a different political side. We celebrate when someone from the opposing camp makes a mistake, yet become uncomfortable when our own side is questioned.
We demand freedom when we are in opposition, but sometimes struggle to accept criticism when our preferred leaders are in power.
This is where we must be honest with ourselves.
The freedom we demand for our side must also be available to the other side.
If we want the right to criticise President Ruto, we must accept that others have the right to defend him.
If we want to support Ruto without being insulted, we must also allow those who oppose him to express their views.
If we want politicians to speak freely, we must create an environment where they do not have to apologise merely because their words do not fit the expectations of those in power.
That is the meaning of independent thought.
Development should not silence disagreement
The rally in Bomet was associated with the launch of development projects, including the Chebole–Kiplokyi–Kapkoros Road in Sotik Constituency.
Development is important. Roads, water, healthcare, education, and employment matter to Kenyans.
But development should never become a reason to silence questions.
A road project can be appreciated and still be scrutinised.
A government can be recognised for what it has done and still be challenged on what it has not done.
Supporting development does not mean surrendering accountability.
As a country, we need leaders who can stand before their people and say:
“I support the President, but on this matter, I have a different view.”
We need citizens who can say:
“I appreciate this project, but I still have questions about its implementation.”
We need political parties that understand that loyalty does not require intellectual surrender.
What kind of Kenya are we building?
As we move closer to the 2027 General Election, political temperatures will continue to rise. Slogans will become louder, alliances will shift, and leaders will compete for public support.
But the real test of our democracy will not only be who wins an election.
It will be whether we can disagree without destroying one another.
Whether a politician can make a mistake without being branded an enemy.
Whether a citizen can question a leader without being threatened.
Whether we can support a government while demanding better governance.
Whether we can love our country more than we love political personalities.
Because at the end of the day, leaders come and go.
But the people remain.
And the people deserve a political environment where their voices matter.
I believe every Kenyan is entitled to an independent opinion.
You can support William Ruto. You can oppose him. You can support his development agenda and disagree with his policies. You can change your mind as new information becomes available.
That is your democratic right.
But with that right comes responsibility. We must speak honestly, respect others, avoid spreading falsehoods, and be willing to listen.
We should not use freedom of expression as an excuse to insult others. Equally, we should not use political loyalty as an excuse to silence them.
Let us build a Kenya where disagreement is not treated as betrayal, where questions are not treated as insults, and where independent thinking is not something we apologise for.
Because if we cannot express our opinions freely, then what exactly are we defending when we talk about democracy?
Are we not entitled to have our independent opinions?
Perhaps that is the question we should all be asking ourselves.
A recent incident involving Sotik Member of Parliament Francis Sigei at President William Ruto’s rally in Bomet has once again brought this question to mind: Are we not entitled to have our independent opinions?
According to reports published on September 10 and 11, 2026, Sigei appeared to say “one term” while addressing President Ruto during a rally. The remark was interpreted as endorsing the opposition’s “WANTAM” slogan. He later apologised and clarified that he meant “one more term,” attributing the confusion to excitement during the President’s visit. He reaffirmed his support for Ruto’s second term.
But beyond the apology lies a much bigger question about our political culture.
Must every opinion be approved by those in power?
Imagine a country where supporting a leader is acceptable, but questioning that leader is considered disloyalty.
Imagine a country where a politician cannot express a different view without first calculating the consequences.
Imagine a country where citizens are expected to clap when leaders speak, agree when leaders decide, and remain silent when they disagree.
Is that the democracy we fought for?
Kenya is a democratic country. Democracy is not simply about voting every five years. It is also about the freedom to think, question, disagree, and express an opinion without intimidation.
An independent opinion is not automatically an act of rebellion.
A politician can support President Ruto today and disagree with one of his policies tomorrow. A citizen can appreciate a road project and still question the cost of living. A supporter can believe in a leader’s vision without agreeing with everything that leader says.
These positions are not contradictions. They are part of being human.
The Sigei incident and the fear of political interpretation
Let us be fair to Francis Sigei.
He explained himself, apologised to the President, and reaffirmed his support for a second term. We cannot know his private intentions beyond what he has publicly explained.
But the incident raises an important concern.
If a single phrase, whether intentional or accidental, can create such political unease, what does that tell us about the freedom leaders feel they have to speak?
Political loyalty should not mean surrendering one’s voice.
We should be able to distinguish between a genuine political position and a mistake. We should also be able to distinguish between criticism and disrespect.
Not every disagreement is an attack.
Not every question is an insult.
Not every different opinion is an attempt to bring down a government.
Are we creating a culture of political fear?
Sometimes, I wonder whether we have allowed politics to become too personal.
We defend leaders as if they are family members. We attack people simply because they support a different political side. We celebrate when someone from the opposing camp makes a mistake, yet become uncomfortable when our own side is questioned.
We demand freedom when we are in opposition, but sometimes struggle to accept criticism when our preferred leaders are in power.
This is where we must be honest with ourselves.
The freedom we demand for our side must also be available to the other side.
If we want the right to criticise President Ruto, we must accept that others have the right to defend him.
If we want to support Ruto without being insulted, we must also allow those who oppose him to express their views.
If we want politicians to speak freely, we must create an environment where they do not have to apologise merely because their words do not fit the expectations of those in power.
That is the meaning of independent thought.
Development should not silence disagreement
The rally in Bomet was associated with the launch of development projects, including the Chebole–Kiplokyi–Kapkoros Road in Sotik Constituency.
Development is important. Roads, water, healthcare, education, and employment matter to Kenyans.
But development should never become a reason to silence questions.
A road project can be appreciated and still be scrutinised.
A government can be recognised for what it has done and still be challenged on what it has not done.
Supporting development does not mean surrendering accountability.
As a country, we need leaders who can stand before their people and say:
“I support the President, but on this matter, I have a different view.”
We need citizens who can say:
“I appreciate this project, but I still have questions about its implementation.”
We need political parties that understand that loyalty does not require intellectual surrender.
What kind of Kenya are we building?
As we move closer to the 2027 General Election, political temperatures will continue to rise. Slogans will become louder, alliances will shift, and leaders will compete for public support.
But the real test of our democracy will not only be who wins an election.
It will be whether we can disagree without destroying one another.
Whether a politician can make a mistake without being branded an enemy.
Whether a citizen can question a leader without being threatened.
Whether we can support a government while demanding better governance.
Whether we can love our country more than we love political personalities.
Because at the end of the day, leaders come and go.
But the people remain.
And the people deserve a political environment where their voices matter.
I believe every Kenyan is entitled to an independent opinion.
You can support William Ruto. You can oppose him. You can support his development agenda and disagree with his policies. You can change your mind as new information becomes available.
That is your democratic right.
But with that right comes responsibility. We must speak honestly, respect others, avoid spreading falsehoods, and be willing to listen.
We should not use freedom of expression as an excuse to insult others. Equally, we should not use political loyalty as an excuse to silence them.
Let us build a Kenya where disagreement is not treated as betrayal, where questions are not treated as insults, and where independent thinking is not something we apologise for.
Because if we cannot express our opinions freely, then what exactly are we defending when we talk about democracy?
Are we not entitled to have our independent opinions?
Perhaps that is the question we should all be asking ourselves.