“With Ichung’wah, Ruto Needs No Enemy”: MP Jayne Kihara Explodes After Arrest, Vows to Fight On

Naivasha Member of Parliament Jayne Kihara has made a fiery political comeback just hours after being released on a Ksh50,000 personal bond, following her dramatic arrest over alleged incitement.  

In a bold address outside the Milimani Law Courts on Friday, July 18, Kihara aimed direct fire at President William Ruto and his close ally, Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah. 

The outspoken lawmaker, who was arrested on Thursday evening after reportedly failing to honor a summons by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), warned the president about his alliance with Ichung’wah. 

“I would like to tell President Ruto, with Ichung’wah as your friend, you don’t need another enemy. With Ichung’wah around you, you need no other enemy because he is the one wronging Kenyans,” Kihara said defiantly. “He abused me and told me to behave my age.” 

The MP had spent a night in police custody after DCI officers allegedly stormed her home in a forceful arrest.  

Her charges stem from a speech delivered on July 8 in Nairobi during a public gathering, where she accused the government of using NYS buses to transport goons to disrupt protests in Naivasha. She further criticized the administration for what she described as a targeted war against the youth. 

Despite her detention, Kihara stood her ground, promising to keep fighting for justice and truth in Kenya.
“I will continue to fight for Kenyans and my people, even if they put me behind bars for weeks, I am prepared. If we have to stay in cells to get justice, then we will do it,” she declared. 

She described her experience in custody as a defining political moment:
“I have reached the climax of my politics by sleeping in the cells. I have never even been booked in the OB before. Anyone who thinks they will silence me should not bother.” 

Her lawyer, Ndegwa Njiru, revealed the details of the charge sheet, which accuses Kihara of making statements with the intent to provoke a breach of peace. However, no plea was entered during her court appearance as the judge is yet to determine whether the charges against her meet the required legal threshold. 

The court has scheduled the case for mention on Tuesday, July 29, when a ruling on the admissibility of the charges will be made. 

Kihara’s defiant tone and her direct message to President Ruto are sure to spark further political debate, especially amid rising tensions between factions within the ruling coalition.

As the legal proceedings continue, many are watching to see whether this case will ignite deeper political fractures or mark the rise of a new resistance voice in Kenyan politics.