Manyatta Constituency Member of Parliament Gitonga Mukunji has come forward to dispel viral reports that he is banned from visiting or attending events at the State House.

Speaking to SPM Buzz on Monday, February 17, 2025, the outspoken lawmaker—renowned for his fierce criticism of President William Ruto’s administration—remarked that, unlike many of his colleagues, he cannot even recall the last time he set foot in State House.

However, he clarified that his absence is not due to any official prohibition, as the rumours suggest, but rather because he is seldom invited to meetings, particularly those revolving around President Ruto’s government.

He further emphasised that at no point has he received any formal communication barring him from attending State House gatherings.

“I have never received a letter informing me that I am banned from State House. But the fact remains—whenever meetings concerning government affairs are convened, I am simply not invited,” he stated.

Intimidation in politics

Delving deeper into the subject, the legislator also addressed the omnipresent spectre of political intimidation, particularly against leaders who, like himself, vocally challenge the government when it deviates from public expectations.

He acknowledged that intimidation does exist but maintained that its effectiveness depends entirely on the individual being targeted. According to him, those who desperately seek the government’s favour—either for personal enrichment or political survival—are the ones most vulnerable to coercion.

He further lamented that this pervasive culture of political servitude has greatly undermined the independence of Kenya’s legislature, reducing many MPs to mere rubber stamps in the corridors of power.

“The intimidation only extends as far as you allow it. One of the biggest problems in this parliament is that too many MPs are fixated on aligning themselves with the government, chasing tenders, and seeking favours. That is why they struggle to make independent decisions,” he remarked.

Gitonga further noted that once elected, a leader must make a fundamental choice: either to ingratiate themselves with the government and amass wealth quickly or to remain steadfast in serving the people.

“As a leader, you have to decide—do you prioritise enriching yourself, or do you put the people first? Everything else, including whether or not you’re invited to government meetings, becomes secondary. For me, the last time I was in State House was a long time ago,” he quipped.

Leading protests

Mukunji, who has positioned himself as a fearless champion of the people, has recently made headlines for boldly challenging government figures—including those within the UDA party, under which he was elected.

One of his latest run-ins involved his confrontation with Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, who lambasted him and the people of Embu, accusing them of transforming the county into a hotbed of lawlessness and insurrection.

Kindiki’s remarks followed a wave of peaceful protests in Embu, where residents had barricaded the Nairobi-Embu highway to demand answers regarding the mysterious abduction of one of their own, Billy Mwangi.

Firing back at the DP’s comments, Mukunji cautioned him against hastily labelling Embu as a stronghold of anarchy, even advising him to reconsider his choice of political advisors, whom he accused of feeding him misleading information.

“I want to dissuade the Deputy President from painting Embu in the wrong light and from saying that Embu is the new Kondele. And I want to say this with all due respect—all the areas he mentioned are part of Kenya.

We were searching for a young man named Billy Mwangi. No property was destroyed, and no one was harmed. I don’t understand why the Deputy President is using taxpayers’ time to address the people of Tharaka Nithi about Embu matters. This is totally misleading,” Mukunji declared.