Ichung'wah grilled over police brutality, graft and unfulfilled promises under Ruto regime

National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah during an interview on Al Jazeera's Head to Head with Mehdi Hasan on February 27, 2025. (Photo: Al Jazeera)

By Lucy Mumbi
Thursday, February 27, 2025

Ichung’wah strongly denied allegations of police involvement in the enforced disappearances of protesters during anti-government demonstrations, calling such claims "a conspiracy."

National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah has been grilled over allegations of state-sponsored enforced disappearances, corruption and the slow implementation of government promises during a heated interview on Al Jazeera's Head to Head with Mehdi Hasan.

Speaking at London’s Conway Hall, Ichung’wah faced tough questions on police brutality, the wealth of Kenyan lawmakers and the progress of President William Ruto's administration.

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Ichung’wah downplayed the figure, stating that his wealth was closer to Sh1 billion ($7.7 million USD), accumulated from his business ventures before entering politics.

“My net worth is close to Sh1 billion,” he said.

Mehdi also challenged Ichung’wah on the widespread perception that Kenyan lawmakers, who are among the highest-paid globally, often flaunt their wealth in contrast to the economic struggles of ordinary citizens.

“That is perception,” Ichung’wah responded.

“Don’t look at what someone is earning vis-à-vis others. I wasn't born an MP; I arrived in the public scene having had another life. I worked in other organisations before politics and did business over the years. Therefore, the perception that people in public service should not amass wealth should stop.”

On the criticism of MPs flaunting their wealth, he 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.”

The interview also tackled the issue of corruption in Kenya, with Mehdi directly asking Ichung’wah if he had ever paid a bribe.

“I have never paid a bribe in my entire life,” he said.

“It takes two to tango. It takes the bribe taker and the bribe giver. Why are policemen taking bribes? Because the drivers are on the wrong, maybe they're speaking on the phone.”

Recalling an incident from his youth, he said, “I have been stopped by a policeman for speeding. Unfortunately, I was 19 years old. I explained myself out of the situation. You will never need to pay a bribe.”

Plainclothes police officers armed with tear gas guns aim at protesters on Tom Mboya Street during the #NaneNaneMarch demonstrations on Thursday, August 8, 2024. (Photo: Justine Ondieki)

Plainclothes police officers armed with tear gas guns aim at protesters chanting anti-government slogans along Tom Mboya Street during the #NaneNaneMarch demonstrations on Thursday, August 8, 2024. (Photo: Justine Ondieki)

Mehdi further confronted Ichung’wah with a report from Mzalendo, a Kenyan parliamentary monitoring organisation, which highlighted that only 14 out of the 281 promises in Ruto’s 2022 election manifesto have been fulfilled—a mere five per cent completion rate.

“The implementation of a manifesto is page after page, chapter after chapter,” Ichung’wah said, declining to specify how many promises had been met.

“You’re the first politician who has said to me, ‘I will not give you a straight answer,’” Mehdi retorted.

Unfulfilled pledges

When pushed on specific unfulfilled pledges, such as providing free internet and phone calls, initiating a public inquiry into cronyism, and ratifying the International Convention Against Enforced Disappearances, Ichung’wah defended the government's progress.

“He [President Ruto] is yet to ratify, but it is a work in progress,” he said.

Mehdi countered, “He said he would do it as soon as he came to power. It’s been two and a half years. He could do it with a stroke of his pen. Why has he not done it?”

Ichung’wah responded by pointing to the broader scope of governance, stating that numerous international agreements had been ratified, though he did not specify which ones.

Mehdi cited a 2024 Human Rights Watch report that detailed bodies of tortured victims being found in rivers, forests, and mortuaries, with no accountability from the state.

In his defense, Ichungwa’h said, “You want to believe what Human Rights Watch said, not what I’m saying?”

Hasan replied, “I’m going to believe a human rights group over a politician who started by saying, ‘I won’t give you a straight answer.’”

However, Ichung’wah insisted that investigations were ongoing.

“Three police officers have been prosecuted,” he said, adding that 34 more cases were under investigation.

Joining the debate were Awino Okech, a Professor of Feminist and Security Studies at SOAS University of London, Irungu Houghton, Executive Director of Amnesty International Kenya, and Moses Langat, a Kenyan community leader in the UK.