Ichung'wah at pains to defend Ruto's government in Al Jazeera interview

National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah faced a tough time defending President William Ruto’s administration during a widely circulated interview on Al Jazeera.

The 47-minute interview, aired on Head to Head, a show known for its hard-hitting questions, has sparked criticism from social media users worldwide.

“No one is able to defend the Kenyan Government, he was really struggling,” an X user, identified as Dave, wrote.

Another added, "I used to think Kimani Ichungwa was one of Kenya's sharpest politicians with great intellectual capacity and political acumen. But, after watching him get roasted on Al-Jazeera like (sic), it hit me—Kenya is led by so many incompetent folks. I feeling sorry for Kenyans, you deserve better”.

The interview began with the host pressing Ichung’wah on whether the Kenya Kwanza government had fulfilled any of its 2022 campaign promises.

“I told you the manifesto is being implemented chapter after chapter, right from housing to the cost of living that you're speaking about. Because, of course, you cannot judge what was to be done in five years, in just two years,” he responded.

Abductions and Police brutality

The discussion shifted when Ichung’wah was asked about ="https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/health/amp/national/article/2001508999/natembeya-ichungwah-in-heated-exchange-at-wetangulas-mothers-burial">police brutality during the 2024< anti-government protests.

“You remember the first demonstrations after the elections…in 2023 were about the cost of living. Unfortunately, all protests end in deaths, which is regrettable,” he said.

He further denied claims that police routinely open fire on demonstrators, stating, “It is just the nature of our demonstrations—where they turn violent, and police have to intervene. We all regret the loss of life during the 2022 protests and even those of June last year. Unfortunate that lives had to be lost.”

When the interviewer raised concerns over the ="https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/national/article/2001509068/anger-at-leaders-flippant-remarks-amid-abductions-terror-and-pain">abduction of young activists during the 2024 protests<, Ichung’wah praised Kenya’s constitution and claimed investigations were ongoing.

“You've mentioned two or three people. The Independent Police Oversight Authority recorded about 60 deaths from last year's demonstrations. And there are some, I think about 30-something, that are still under investigation. They have dismissed others,” he explained.

Asked how many police officers had been prosecuted for shooting unarmed protesters, he claimed, “three are already in court.” However, he later conceded that authorities had yet to investigate or prosecute many of the cases, despite Kenya’s long history of police brutality and lack of accountability.

When pressed on data from Human Rights Watch about youth killed in the 2024 protests, Ichung’wah responded, “I won't give you straight answers. That’s their take, and I didn't come here to give their take. I came here to give my perspective.,” he said in what netizens have described as a helpless gesture.

Critics called this response evasive, with some describing his demeanor as “helpless.”

At the height of the abduction crisis, ="https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/national/article/2001509458/muturi-breaks-silence-slams-government-over-abductions-deaths">Ichung’wah had downplayed reports<, claiming some of those who alleged forced disappearances were actually “hiding in Airbnbs with their girlfriends.”

Clarifying his remarks in the interview, he said, “There was a misconception that every abduction was by security agencies. What I meant was that if someone violates the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, the DCI or police should arrest them and take them to court. Security agencies have no business abducting anyone.”

The interview has fueled debate over the Ruto administration’s handling of civil liberties and police accountability.