Kimani Ichung’wah: The staunch Ruto loyalist reminding Kenyans of JJ Kamotho and Kariuki Chotara

Having the President's ear in Kenya has for eons seemed to carve out shrewdness and brazenness in politicians, a required quintessential.

This has been seen the case since Kenya gained her independence in 1963 when founding father Jomo Kenyatta had staunch loyalists among them Daniel Arap Moi (second president) who brazenly defended his reforms however unsavory they were to the people.

The loyalists would then be rewarded with political power and wealth, anchoring their clownery support for the man at the nation's helm.

A culture was slowly, yet meticulously, devised and those who knew how to play to the tune enjoyed lengthy turns on the dance floor.

When Moi took over power in 1978, members of the then-reigning political party Kenya African National Union (KANU) contested for the President's affinity which ended in propping up two men from the Mount Kenya region who would become loyal handymen.

This introduced the political buffoonery of Kariuki Chotara and the stalwart loyalty of John Joseph 'JJ' Kamotho.

For Kariuki Chotara Wathanga, you either loved or hated him. His political persona seemingly harbored a fundamental antipathy to grey areas. On one hand, he was known as a generous philanthropist but was also known as the face of doom. 

Chotara is profoundly known for creating one of the most dreaded KANU youth groups when he was elected KANU chairman, Naivasha division in the late 1970s.

Rising through the political ranks from being a farmer, Chotara became the undisputed KANU kingpin in Nakuru, boisterously guarding and shielding President Moi's interests.

And with his haughtiness came the shaping of political foes, clashing with KANU officials.

In one incident, he got wind that the late Ng’ang’a Kihonge, who was the Nakuru County Council Chairman, had organised a visit to State House along with other KANU officials and were being feted by Moi.

Chotara is said to have driven to the event and went on a loose-tongue lament telling Moi: 

"Hapana sikiriza mambo ya hawa. Hawa marirara makinywa muma na hapa wanaongea!” (Do not listen to these people. They spent the night taking an oath and here they are to fool you!)," he said as quoted by The Standard.

JJ Kamotho's loyalty was nothing dissimilar from Chotara's as he was known for his peevish statements, especially when opinions against Moi or the ruling party were floated.

In 1993, at the height of the KANU regime, he commented to the media in response to a question on rampant corruption, he took a harsh stance that seemed condescending and ignorant on upholding accountability.

“KANU never promised zero tolerance on corruption in its campaign manifesto,” he told journalists.

He was Moi's factotum and never tired from repeating his famous slogan that “KANU ni baba na mama” (KANU is our father and mother – in other words, our lifeline) and “Nyayo juu juu juu zaidi!” (Long live Nyayo!)

Throughout the years he earned himself nominations to Parliament and even got a position in Cabinet for a decade upto 2002. During those years he served in the key ministries of Trade, Environment and Local Government.

Fast forward to 2024, National Assembly Majority leader Kimani Ichung'wah has become Kamotho and Chotara's incarnate, aimlessly willing to shove off anyone side-eyeing President William Ruto.

After clinching the Kikuyu Parliamentary seat in 2022 for the second time, Ichung'wah quickly became President Ruto's shepherd in Parliament.

Progressively, he grew closer to President Ruto and so did his habitual terse and snappy statements in defending the government manifest. 

He became a sore in the public eye in June 2024 when he attempted to scoff at attempts by youthful protestors to halt the Finance Bill 2024.

Ichung'wah held that the group comprised elites who relied on iPhones and online taxis to attend protests and were blissfully unaware of the bill's actual contents.

"The Gen Z have iPhones and use Ubers to protest. Wanatoka maandamano wanaingia KFC kukula kuku na minofu, maji ni ile ya chupa...si mliwaona? Hawajui shida stima ni kitu gani...wako na umeme 24/7 (They leave protests and go to eat in KFC and drink bottled water, didn't you see them? They do not know the problem of lacking electricity because they have it 24/7)," he said.

His ill-advised sentiments were met with harsh ridicule, which saw him attacked online as Kenyans referred to him as President Ruto's wife for his allegiance to the presidency. 

Kenyans coined the phrase 'muka wa Ruto' translating to Ruto's wife following photos and videos being shared online of Ichung'wah accompanying Ruto in his itinerary, with some claiming that he took then Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's position in government. 

"Naskia wengine kwa mtandao wameanza kuniita bibi ya Ruto. Mkiniangalia, nakaa mama Rachel? (I hear people online calling me Ruto's wife. Do I look like Rachel [Ruto]?)," he said at a public gathering.

The mounting pressure forced him to renege on his words and praise the same group he mocked.

Toning down on his view towards Gen Zs, Ichung'wah commended the generation for what he described as radically eroding the deeply-rooted politics of ethnicity in Kenya.

"The emergence of Gen Z as a force in advocacy and governance has shown a remarkable shift towards unity and inclusivity, transcending ethnic and tribal barriers that have long divided us," he wrote in a social media post two days after the pivotal anti-Finance Bill protests.

Later in September, with a seemingly bloated acquired power, Ichung'wah went after former DP Gachagua's jugular as tensions continued to rise on the murky politics of the Mt. Kenya region.

For weeks, Ichung'wah had been making fiery statements against "leaders who seek to segregate a nation based on tribe, colour, religion" whom he linked to the political clamour in the region.

This came amid rumours that Gachagua was rallying leaders from the region for his support, claiming that there was a scheme by some individuals to convince President Ruto to throw him under the political bus.

"Never again shall we allow leaders for their own selfish and sectarian interests to divide our people on the basis of where they come from or the political parties they are affiliated to," said Ichung'wah at a political gathering.

The Kikuyu MP launched an all-out war on Gachagua and vehemently pushed for his removal from office.

Months later, when there was an upsurge in abductions, fingers, including Gachagua's, were pointed at President Ruto as Kenyans linked him to the disappearance of those criticizing his government.

The criticism was also made by Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya during the burial of National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula’s mother in Bungoma County, which sparked a loathing and fiery response from Ichung'wah who was at the same event.

Taking the lectern, Ichung'wah accused the Trans Nzoia Governor of overseeing similar killings during his tenure as Rift Valley Regional Commissioner.

Ichung’wah told Natembeya that he has no moral authority to lecture the government over abductions since during his tenure in the security service, Kenyans were abducted and killed in Kerio Valley and multiple bodies dumped in River Yala under his watch.

“Wakati mliua watu mkaweka River Yala, you (Natembeya) were the Regional Commissioner in charge of abductions and murdering Kenyans, wewe mwenyewe! Shame on you, Governor!," he roared.

"You cannot claim abductions when you were the key abductor and murderer of Kenyans under the previous regime."

He accused the Governor of leading divisive and tribal politics, just like Gachagua, to alienate communities and cause disunity among Kenyans.

“Yule aliyekuwa kiongozi wako wa siasa za ukabila, (your former leader in tribal politics) the former Deputy President was the one planning for abductions to blame William Ruto. Tunawajua na tunawaona mchana na tutawatangaza mchana hadharani na huwezi kututisha (we know you, we see you and we will call you out in broad daylight and you cannot threaten us),” the furious MP stated.

“Siasa mnazofanya za kugawa watu kwa misingi ya kikabila, uchochezi, hizo siasa zimekwama na hautafaulu nazo. (Divisive politics and incitement are long gone and you will not succeed with them).”

Ichung’wah has emerged as one of President Ruto’s closest allies and fiercest defenders, dancing only to the tune played by the Head of State. Just like Kamotho and Chotara before him, he has continuously proven his utter disregard for anything and anyone anti-government, taking all of them head-on, even if it means brushing members of the public the wrong way.