Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma has thrown his weight behind Kikuyu MP and National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, declaring him Mount Kenya’s best hope for the presidency despite recent hostile receptions in the region during President William Ruto’s development tour.
In a statement posted on his X page, Kaluma, a vocal ODM legislator, likened Ichung’wah’s experience of heckling in his backyard to the biblical rejection of prophets in their hometowns. He quoted Mark 6:4, saying, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his own household.” He urged Ichung’wah to remain steadfast, saying isolated jeers should not define his political journey.
“Kimani Ichung’wah is the best bet Mt Kenya people have for the presidency. I hope those few noisemakers realise this before it is too late,” Kaluma stated.
Ichung’wah faced jeers in parts of Nyandarua and Kiambu counties as President Ruto led a weeklong development tour across Mount Kenya. On April 3, during the launch of the Last Mile Connectivity project in Ol Kalou Town, Ichung’wah’s speech was disrupted by a hostile crowd, prompting him to assert his resilience: “No one can shout me down. I cannot be intimidated.”
Efforts to win over the crowd by emphasizing the benefits of affordable housing and job opportunities for local youth were met with continued heckling. A similar reception followed in Kiambu County during the president’s April 5 tour.
Despite the backlash, Ichung’wah has received strong backing from within Kenya Kwanza. Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa praised him as the coalition’s “driving force,” calling him “an exceptional individual” and likening him to the late political strategist JJ Kamotho.
Ichung’wah’s rising national profile and unwavering stance have sparked conversations about his future in Kenyan politics, with Kaluma’s endorsement crossing party lines to signal broader support.
As discontent brews in sections of Mount Kenya, Ichung’wah’s ability to weather political storms may shape not only his career but also the future leadership dynamics of the region and beyond.
