Ichung’wah challenges Kenyans to judge government by its record

National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah has challenged Kenyans to judge the Kenya Kwanza administration by its record in government rather than political propaganda, rhetoric and confrontation.

Speaking on Friday, September 11, 2026, during a meeting with grassroots women leaders in Kiangwaci, Ndia Constituency, Kirinyaga County, Ichung’wah said the government should be assessed on the policies it has implemented and the impact of those programmes on ordinary citizens.

He urged Kenyans to look beyond political slogans and examine what the administration has delivered since taking office.

“Judge us by what we have done, not by propaganda. Look at the policies we have implemented, look at the programmes we have rolled out, and ask yourself whether they are making a difference in the lives of ordinary Kenyans,” Ichung’wah said.

Alternative policies

The Majority Leader said Kenya’s political contest should be anchored on competing ideas, policies and development agendas rather than insults, violence and the disruption of political meetings.

He condemned the purported use of young people to cause chaos at political gatherings, saying politicians who deploy youths for confrontations should be held accountable for the consequences.

“Leaders should stop using young people negatively. Political debates are not physical fights. They should be a contest of ideas and policies,” he said.

Ichung’wah challenged opposition leaders to offer Kenyans alternative policies instead of relying on political confrontation.

“If you disagree with the government, tell Kenyans what you would do differently. Give them an alternative policy. Politics should be about ideas, not who can create the biggest confrontation,” he said.

His remarks come amid heightened political activity, with leaders increasingly trading accusations over political meetings, public demonstrations and the conduct of supporters.

At the same time, he said foreign nationals operating businesses in Kenya must comply with registration and immigration requirements, arguing that the government must have accurate information on people living and conducting business in the country for security purposes.

“We welcome everyone who comes to Kenya legally to do business. But everyone must comply with the law. Registration is not about targeting a community; it is about knowing who is in the country and protecting both individual and national security,” Ichung’wah said.

Relief for rice farmers

He also delivered a message of relief to rice farmers in Mwea and neighbouring areas, announcing that delayed payments had begun reaching farmers.

He said the government had allocated funds in the national budget to clear outstanding payments and assured farmers that the disbursements would continue until all eligible beneficiaries were paid.

“I was in Mwea recently, and we assured the people of Mwea that they would receive their rice payments this week. Starting yesterday and today, farmers have begun receiving their payments,” he said.

The payment issue has been a major concern among rice farmers in the region, with delayed payments placing pressure on households dependent on the crop for their livelihoods.

Kirinyaga Central MP Gachoki Gitari backed Ichung’wah’s warning against the exploitation of young people in political confrontations.

Gitari said politicians should invest in the future of young people, including university students, rather than recruiting them to disrupt political meetings.

“Stop using our boys in the wrong way. Show them what they are supposed to do. Give them a fishing rod so that they can fish for themselves tomorrow,” Gitari said.

He claimed that some youths allegedly sent to disrupt political meetings had later admitted that they had no intention of causing trouble but were motivated by hunger and financial hardship.

Gitari further accused politicians of abandoning young people after allegedly using them to cause disruptions, leaving some stranded without transport or support to return home.

Leaders urge focus on policy ahead of elections

The remarks are likely to fuel the broader debate over the direction of Kenya’s politics ahead of the next electoral cycle, particularly over whether political parties will compete through policy proposals or increasingly rely on mass mobilisation and street-level confrontation.

For Ichung’wah, the message was clear: the government wants its record placed at the centre of the political debate.

“Let the people judge us on our work. Let our opponents give Kenyans their alternatives. At the end of the day, Kenyans are intelligent enough to decide between a record of delivery and empty political propaganda.”