This archive report was first published on 20 November 2019.
On November 18, 2019, Kimani Ichung’wa, the Member of Parliament for Kikuyu constituency, took to Twitter to congratulate Andy Michael Munyiri, the top KCPE candidate from Demacrest Academy in Kikuyu constituency, Kiambu county, for his stellar performance, scoring 440 marks.
Ichung’wa's tweet read: 'CONGRATULATIONS to Andy Michael Munyiri and Damacrest School. You have done Kikuyu proud.'
However, his post elicited mixed reactions, with some netizens accusing him of turning the boy's KCPE success into a tribal affair, assuming he meant the Kikuyu community and not constituency.
'He is a Kenyan for God's sake stop being tribal at times,' wrote Keribo. 'I didn’t expect this from you mhesh,' mfalme 254 retorted. 'Hope this is not Honourable Kimani…What a shame,' Jacob said.
Others defended Ichung’wa, clarifying that 'Kikuyu' referred to the constituency and not the tribe. 'Kikuyu is a name of constituency and Kimani Ichung’wa is the MP. So drop the ethnic card and let the MP be,' wrote Ahmed Kafia.
Despite the clarification, some felt that Ichung’wa should have made it clear that he was referring to his constituency and not the tribe.
