Kikuyu Member of Parliament and National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah has dismissed a heckling incident that occurred on April 3, 2025, when he attempted to speak in Nyandarua County during President William Ruto’s development tour.
Speaking in Kangema Murang’a following the incident, Ichung’wah urged residents to focus on development rather than political disruptions emphasizing that such distractions would not stop his work for the people.
“Kelele za chura haizuii ng’ombe kunywa maji” (A frog’s noise doesn’t stop cattle from drinking water), he stated, using a Swahili proverb to downplay the significance of the heckling.
Ichung’wah further told the crowd not to be intimidated by the vocal few, urging those engaging in the heckling to focus on issues of substance rather than political theatrics.
“Don’t be intimidated by these noisemakers. Let them make noise while we focus on working. Isn’t that right?” he told the crowd.
A close ally of President Ruto, Ichung’wah stressed that political accountability should be assessed at the appropriate time, rather than during government development tours.
“When the political season comes, we will ask each other what work the MP has done, what work the governor has done, what work the president has done, and what work the senator has done,” he stated.
“Those questions will be asked during the political season. For now, let’s reduce the noise and focus on work,” he added.
Heckling in Nyandarua
The remarks came after Ichung’wah was met with loud jeers on Thursday, April 3, during the launch of Ol Kalou town’s last-mile electricity connectivity project.
Despite his attempts to continue speaking, the jeers intensified, indicating that he was not welcome.
In a bid to salvage the moment, Ichung’wah assured the audience that jobs from the Affordable Housing project, pledged by the President, would go to the youth in attendance.
“They have said that all the stonework for the Affordable Housing project should be given to these young men from Affordable Housing,” he mentioned.
However, this did little to pacify the agitated crowd, whose jeers grew louder.
Frustrated, Ichung’wah asserted his resilience, telling President Ruto that he would not be silenced.
“Calm down; I am not someone who gets shouted down, Mr. President; I am not one to be silenced,” he stated.
He further declared that none of the leaders accompanying Ruto in Nyandarua would be intimidated.
“As we have said, here in Ol Kalou and across Nyandarua, no one will be bullied into silence, and I will not be intimidated—God is my witness,” he added.
Despite his defiance, the crowd remained unrelenting, ultimately forcing Ichung’wah to cut his speech short.
“May God bless you; thank you very much,” he concluded sarcastically.
Leaders reaction
Following the dramatic scene, Nyandarua Senator John Methu took to X to poke fun at the incident.
Methu claimed that residents had been given Ksh2,000 as an incentive to listen to President Ruto, implying that other politicians should have secured their own payments to avoid rejection.
“We, the people of Nyandarua, were given Ksh2,000 to listen to Mr. @WilliamsRuto; the rest, if they wanted to speak, should have settled their own bill separately,” he remarked.
Puzzled by the hostile reception, Saboti MP Caleb Amisi took to his X account to highlight that Ichung’wah has no direct role in Nyandarua’s politics, calling on political analysts to help explain the crowd’s backlash.
“Kimani Ichungwa does not come from Nyandarua, and neither is he an aspirant for any seat there. Why will the crowd boo him? Wapi wachanuzi wa siasa !” Amisi questioned.