Kimani Ichung’wah Cornered: Ruto’s Broken Promises & Brutal Crackdowns Exposed in Al Jazeera Showdown
National Assembly Majority Leader and Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah faced a tough grilling during an interview on Al Jazeera’s Head to Head program with Mehdi Hasan. The interview, held on Thursday, February 28, saw Ichung’wah struggle to defend President William Ruto’s administration against accusations of unfulfilled promises, human rights violations, and government excesses.
Unfulfilled Campaign Promises
Hasan questioned Ichung’wah on why President Ruto had failed to deliver on most of the promises he made to Kenyans during the 2022 campaign. According to Hasan, only 14 out of 281 pledges had been fulfilled in the past two and a half years. In response, Ichung’wah insisted that the Kenya Kwanza administration was still in the process of implementing its manifesto, but he was unable to provide a specific number of accomplished promises.
“It is being implemented. It’s only been two years. I will not give you a straight answer of two or 10 or 200,” Ichung’wah responded, deflecting direct accountability.
Mehdi cited data from Mzalendo, a non-partisan parliamentary watchdog, which revealed that nearly 95% of Ruto’s promises remained unfulfilled, fueling frustration among Kenyans.
Allegations of Human Rights Violations
The interview turned more intense when Hasan brought up allegations of enforced disappearances and police brutality against protesters. Ichung’wah dismissed claims that state forces were involved in abductions, calling them a “conspiracy.”
“I do not believe there are enforced disappearances perpetuated by the state in Kenya,” Ichung’wah said.
However, data from the Kenya Human Rights Commission contradicts his statement, reporting at least 63 civilian deaths, 65 forced disappearances, and over 1,400 unlawful detentions since Ruto took office.
Hasan also confronted Ichung’wah with the case of former Attorney General Justin Muturi, whose son was allegedly abducted by security forces after participating in the 2024 anti-government protests. Ichung’wah dismissed Muturi’s claims, suggesting he was lying for political gain.
“He has reasons to lie. He’s playing politics with a very unfortunate incident,” Ichung’wah stated.
Wealth and Corruption Concerns
Another heated moment in the interview came when Ichung’wah was asked to clarify his personal net worth. Responding to a claim by Minority Leader Junet Mohamed that he was worth Ksh5 billion (USD 38 million), Ichung’wah admitted that his wealth was close to Ksh1 billion.
On the issue of Kenyan MPs flaunting their wealth on social media, Ichung’wah criticized the practice, calling it “unfortunate.”
“Members of parliament in my party in the House who I see flaunting things that are not palatable with Kenyans, I tell them, ‘Hey bro, this is not good,’” he said.
Expert Panel Weighs In
The Head to Head interview also featured insights from three experts:
- Awino Okech, Professor of Feminist and Security Studies at the University of London-SOAS
- Irungu Houghton, Executive Director of Amnesty International Kenya
- Moses Langat, a Kenyan Community Leader in the UK Diaspora
The panelists questioned the Kenyan government’s commitment to democracy and accountability, further intensifying the debate.
As the 2027 elections approach, the Kenya Kwanza administration continues to face mounting scrutiny over its performance, human rights record, and economic policies. Stay tuned for more updates on Nairobian as the story unfolds.
in other news:Gachagua Accuses President Ruto of Plotting to Remove Chief Justice Koome
Kimani Ichung’wah Cornered: Ruto’s Broken Promises & Brutal Crackdowns Exposed in Al Jazeera Showdown