Ichung’wah: I’m called Ruto’s wife just for working with him
By Cy Muganda, February 27, 2025National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah has dismissed assertions that the Kenya Kwanza administration is targeting its online critics, arguing that despite being labelled on social media as President William Ruto’s wife, he remains focused on his work.
Speaking in an interview with Al Jazeera on February 27, 2025, Ichung’wah asserted that the government is unbothered by online discourse, emphasizing that their primary focus remains on governance.
“I am less concerned with what people say online or on social media. I have been called William Ruto’s wife because I work closely with him, and I take it in my stride. But I will have to do my work and do it to the best of my ability. That’s my concern, and I believe everyone within the Kenya Kwanza administration is less bothered by what people say online,” Ichung’wah stated.
In response to questions about whether the government represses dissenting voices on digital platforms, he maintained that Kenya Kwanza’s leadership is not distracted by online narratives.
Critics reported missing
His remarks come at a time when key government critics have gone missing, with some later found dead.
In December 2024, several individuals—Billy Mwangi, Peter Muteti, Bernard Kavuli, Gideon Kibet, and Rony Kiplangat—were abducted in different towns across the country and later released in January 2025.
Their disappearances were linked to their mockery of President Ruto on social media, sparking nationwide outrage.
Kibet, a silhouette cartoonist known as Kibet Bull, gained popularity in November 2024 for his viral caricatures of President William Ruto.
He was abducted by suspected security officials shortly after meeting Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah at his office in Nairobi.
After his release, Billy Mwangi recounted that he was abducted while waiting for a haircut at a barbershop in Embu town.
He described being forcibly taken by four hooded men who arrived in a white double-cabin pickup truck.
“I was captured and dragged into the vehicle. We drove for several kilometres, but I was so terrified I couldn’t tell which direction we took from Embu,” Mwangi said.
“When we arrived at the location, I was thrown into a dark room, beaten, and mentally tortured. I don’t remember much of what happened. It will take time for me to fully recover and recollect what happened. Right now, I still feel mentally disturbed, confused, and unable to remember everything,” he added.
Abductees were tortured
Appearing before Justice Bahati Mwamuye, on Monday, January 27, 2025, The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) expressed a strong belief that the state is involved in the abductions of people who have been openly criticizing the Kenya Kwanza government, through various digital platforms.
KNCHR Deputy Director of the Complaints and Investigations Directorate department, Kamanda Mucheke, stated that the manner of the abductions and subsequent releases exhibits similarities that suggest they were carried out by the same person or entity.
“The commission believes that the 2nd to 8th Petitioners were abducted by the same person and/or entity due to the similarities in the style and manner within which the abductions and releases were done,” part of the KNCHR affidavit reads.
According to KNCHR, the released abductees were subjected to physical torture and interrogated about their criticisms of the government.
The commission reported that the abductees—Peter Muteti, Benard Kavuli, Billy Mwangi, Gideon Kibet, and Rony Kiplangat—informed them that they were threatened with re-abduction if they discussed their experiences during their captivity.
They were also coerced into deleting certain posts from their social media accounts.
The petitioners reported being forcibly shaved, stripped naked, and left without clothing for several days before their release.
Before being sent home, each abductee reportedly received transport money ranging from Ksh2,000 to Ksh3,500.