Former Bahati Member of Parliament Kimani Ngunjiri has come out all guns blazing against National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, sternly cautioning him against throwing venomous insults at former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in the ongoing bare-knuckle showdown between rival political camps.

Speaking on Monday, June 2, 2025, during a Facebook livestream he dubbed his ‘State of the Nation Address’, Ngunjiri described Ichung’wah as his younger brother — someone he often sides with on various issues — but expressed deep dismay at the way he was going after Gachagua with what he called uncalled-for and belittling language.

“Kimani Ichung’wah, you are my younger brother — challenge Gachagua if you wish, but do not insult him. You have not attained that level,” he stated emphatically.

Ngunjiri went on to say that not even the president, despite occupying the most powerful seat in the land, has the moral freedom to publicly demean others, warning Ichung’wah that he was treading a dangerous path and had clearly lost the plot.

He likened him to South Mugirango MP Silvanus Osoro, questioning why the latter had recently clapped back at Uhuru Kenyatta’s message to African youth, saying Ichung’wah was proving to be in the same league as Osoro.

“Even the president should not be doing that. Now, you and your likes — people like Osoro — is there nothing else left to focus on? But Osoro goes around attacking Uhuru, throwing shade, saying things like ‘Oh, Uhuru did this. Oh, his government did that,’ as if Uhuru is now walking around like a frail man. All this noise is baseless,” he remarked.

On that note, Ngunjiri insisted that Uhuru Kenyatta is a statesman who served his time honourably and bowed out with dignity, and he stressed that it was wrong for politicians to keep dragging him into petty quarrels and side shows.

He pointed out that even if they felt the need to challenge Uhuru’s remarks, it should be done with class and polish, warning that karma might deal them a dose of their own medicine if, in future, their own preferred leaders were mocked in the same manner.

“What are you really asking, Uhuru? He served his full term and exited. If you must respond, do so respectfully and use honourable words. If you want someone like Matiang’i to become president, then be ready for him to be respected. Matiang’i was also a Cabinet Secretary, and he played his role. What is past is past. Let us respect people. Let us leave Matiang’i be. If we are to respond to Uhuru, let us do so with decorum,” he added.

The former MP further expressed concern that Ichung’wah, despite holding one of the most powerful and influential parliamentary positions, was fast becoming known for dishing out the sharpest and most abrasive words — a pattern Ngunjiri warned was unbecoming of a leader of his stature.

He criticised him sharply, saying that by engaging in this kind of public mudslinging, Ichung’wah was not only soiling his name but also embarrassing the Kikuyu community — a community, he said, that has never been known for such self-sabotaging tendencies.

He also expressed that the insult directed at Gachagua was particularly regrettable, as it came from someone younger, noting that within the Kikuyu community, such breaches of respect are not only frowned upon but are taken with utmost seriousness.

“You, Kimani — when you open your mouth like that and start asking Gachagua who he thinks he is — no, that is not right. You are the Majority Leader in the National Assembly. In our Kikuyu culture, we do not respect people who insult others, especially not when the insults come from a younger person. No matter how wrong Gachagua may be, he is still your elder,” he said in closing.