Kikuyu Member of Parliament (MP) Kimani Ichung’wah faced a hostile reception in Nyandarua County during President William Ruto’s tour of the Mt Kenya region on Thursday, April 3, 2025.
The incident unfolded in Ol Kalou town when Ichung’wah attempted to address the crowd on affordable housing projects but was met with loud boos and jeers.
Despite his efforts to maintain composure, the crowd refused to quiet down, forcing him to cut short his speech.
In his protest, Ichung’wah asserted his independence, stating, “Relax, I am not the person to be heckled. President, I am one person who is not told what to do, and as we have said throughout this region, no one will be intimidated here.” However, his remarks did little to pacify the agitated audience.
As the heckling intensified, Ichung’wah had no choice but to hand back the microphone to President Ruto, who quickly moved to diffuse the tension by calling on former Laikipia Governor Ndiritu Muriithi, the chairman of the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) board, to speak.
Political Undercurrents and Internal Rift
The incident highlighted simmering political tensions within the region. While Ruto’s tour had largely been smooth, the events in Nyandarua marked a significant moment of discord. Notably, the heckling came in the wake of a recent leadership shake-up in Parliament, where two MPs lost their committee leadership positions.
Kipipiri MP Wanjiku Muhia, who previously chaired the National Assembly Committee on Regional Integration, was ousted and replaced by nominated MP Irene Mayaka. The changes were seen as a purge targeting MPs perceived to be sympathetic to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, a move that has deepened divisions within the ruling coalition.
Nyandarua’s reception of Ichung’wah may signal growing dissent within the Mt Kenya region, a stronghold that has been pivotal to Ruto’s administration. The reactions from the crowd suggest that sections of the electorate are dissatisfied with certain political decisions or feel sidelined in ongoing national developments.
As Ruto continues his tour of the region, political analysts will be keen to see whether similar resistance emerges in other counties. The president’s handling of these internal rifts will likely determine the strength of his support base in Mt Kenya moving forward.
