Former Bahati MP Onesmus Kimani Ngunjiri has condemned remarks made by Nominated MP Joseph Wainaina in Eldoret, warning political leaders against utterances that could undermine peace and unity among communities.

Ngunjiri said it was heartbreaking to hear Wainaina’s remarks in Eldoret, a town he described as home to a large Kikuyu diaspora whose members have built their lives, businesses and families in the region over generations.

The former legislator said Wainaina’s position as a nominated Member of Parliament comes with a responsibility to promote national cohesion and build bridges among communities.

“A nomination to Parliament is a call to build bridges, not to burn them. It is a call to unite communities, not to threaten them with the very people who share their blood,” Ngunjiri said.

Ngunjiri invokes Bible verse

In his response, Ngunjiri invoked the Bible to caution leaders against what he described as a dangerous tendency to harden their hearts and make statements without considering their consequences.

He quoted Exodus 9:12, which states: “But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart and he would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said to Moses.”

Ngunjiri said Kenya must avoid a situation where political leaders become insensitive to the damage their words can cause to communities and national cohesion.

“There seems to be a spirit hovering around that hardens hearts and loosens tongues amongst our leaders—one that cannot see the damage such words cause to peace, to unity, and to the future we are trying to build together as Kenyans,” he said.

‘Rift Valley Has Known Too Much Pain’

Ngunjiri further warned against rhetoric that could revive ethnic tensions in the Rift Valley, a region that has experienced episodes of politically instigated violence in Kenya’s history.

He urged political leaders to exercise restraint and avoid statements capable of creating fear or hostility among communities living and doing business together.

“Let us not be a people who harden our hearts against one another. Rift Valley has known too much pain from this kind of talk before. We must choose peace, always,” Ngunjiri said.

The former MP's remarks come amid heightened political activity and shifting alliances ahead of the 2027 General Election, with leaders increasingly using public platforms to advance their political positions.

Ngunjiri's response puts renewed focus on the responsibility of elected and nominated leaders to promote peaceful political discourse and protect the country's fragile gains in national cohesion.