Nyandarua Senator John Methu has defended his controversial remarks made during the burial of late Ol Kalou MP David Kiaraho, insisting he did not attack National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah, but was instead responding to what he described as sustained political insults directed at former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Speaking during a Sunday night interview on Citizen TV, Methu maintained that his comments were taken out of context and were aimed at challenging how political leaders engage in public criticism, particularly inside Parliament.
“I did not attack Ichung’wah,” Methu said. “I said Mheshimiwa Ichung’wah, you have been abusing us, you have been abusing Gachagua. Don’t abuse him in Parliament; he is never in Parliament. Don’t abuse him in State House; he never comes to State House. Come and pick the mic and abuse him now.”
The senator argued that his remarks at the funeral were meant to confront what he termed as one-sided political attacks, adding that leaders should be willing to make their criticisms in open and equal forums.
His comments at the burial had sparked political uproar after he appeared to directly accuse Ichung’wah of being part of leaders allegedly targeting Gachagua politically.
The remarks briefly disrupted proceedings, with reports indicating that attempts were made to calm the situation as tensions rose among mourners.
However, in the interview, Methu rejected claims that his speech amounted to personal attacks, instead portraying it as a response to what he considers unfair treatment of the former deputy president within ruling coalition politics.
He further defended the tone he used at the event, saying political accountability must be consistent and not selective depending on the platform.
According to him, leaders should be prepared to defend their positions publicly rather than relying on indirect criticism.
Methu also described Ichung’wah’s reaction during the funeral as hesitant, alleging that the Majority Leader appeared unsettled by the confrontation.
“The guy was scared, he was running after the President like a small boy, he was shaking like a leaf,” he said during the interview.
The remarks have added another layer to ongoing political tensions within the Kenya Kwanza coalition, particularly in the Mount Kenya region where divisions over leadership and succession politics have become increasingly visible in public events and funerals.
While Methu insists his statements were a call for open political engagement, critics argue that the use of funerals as political battlegrounds risks deepening divisions and undermining the dignity of such gatherings.