ĩthĩnia

v.

1. trouble oneself, strive vainly. Trouble oneself. To exert oneself anxiously or vainly; to engage in futile striving or agitation; often used in the reflexive sense with the phrase 'gwĩthĩnia gũtheri' (chasing after wind) to describe meaningless activity or vanity.

Example: Mũhĩtũki wa gwĩthĩnia na ngũĩ yene (Whoever meddles in the quarrel of another); Nĩ kaba kũiyũkia rũhĩ rũgima na ũhoreri gũkĩra kũnyita na ngundi igĩrĩ na mwĩtungumanio wa gwĩthĩnia gũtheri. (Better is one handful with tranquility)