Nairobi, February 28- National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah has come under fire from Kenyans on X following his recent interview in London, where he dismissed allegations of enforced disappearances of protesters as “a conspiracy.”
Speaking at Conway Hall with journalist Mehdi Hasan, Ichung’wah denied claims that the government was involved in the abduction of demonstrators, particularly during the June 2024 Finance Bill protests. “I do not believe there are enforced disappearances perpetuated by the state in Kenya,” he insisted.
However, human rights organizations paint a different picture. The Kenya Human Rights Commission reports that since President Ruto took office in 2022, at least 63 civilians have died due to police violence, 65 people have been forcibly disappeared, and over 1,400 protesters have been unlawfully detained.
Ichung’wah was challenged on specific cases, including claims by former Attorney General Justin Muturi that his son was abducted by state security agencies after participating in the 2024 protests. Muturi alleges his son was only released after President Ruto personally intervened.
Ichung’wah dismissed the claim, saying, “I tell you emphatically, he has reasons to lie. He’s playing politics with a very unfortunate incident.” He went further to suggest that Muturi, now serving as Cabinet Secretary for Public Service and Human Capital Development, might soon lose his job.
“Justin Muturi knows he’s probably on his way out. He definitely knows it,” Ichung’wah remarked.
The interview also touched on Ichung’wah’s personal wealth. When asked about claims by Minority Leader Junet Mohamed that he is worth KSh 5 billion (approximately $38 million), Ichung’wah corrected the figure, saying, “Not 5 billion. Probably about close to 1 billion.”
His casual admission fueled further backlash online, with Kenyans criticizing the extravagant wealth of politicians while ordinary citizens struggle with high living costs.
On the growing public outrage over MPs flaunting their lavish lifestyles, Ichung’wah admitted, “It’s rather unfortunate. Nobody should do that.” He added, “Members of Parliament in my party who I see flaunting things that are not palatable with Kenyans, I tell them, ‘Hey bro, this is not good.’”
While Ichung’wah attempted to downplay allegations of state repression, Kenyans on X expressed embarrassment over his responses, with many accusing him of ignoring the reality on the ground. His remarks have only intensified the debate on police brutality, political accountability, and the widening gap between Kenya’s leadership and its people.
