MP Ndindi Nyoro addressing members of his PPK party at its headquarters in Nairobi/ HANDOUTPeople’s Party of Kenya leader Ndindi Nyoro has defended himself against claims that he has joint investments with President William Ruto, dismissing the allegations as part of a coordinated campaign by some opposition leaders to discredit him.
Nyoro, who has in recent weeks come under increasing criticism from sections of the opposition, said his former friendship with President Ruto was being weaponised to undermine his credibility after he chose to establish the PPK as an independent political vehicle.
“Right now, the most effective way to mudsling someone is to affiliate them with President William Ruto. So some people have agreed that the best way to fight me is by talking about my former friendship with Ruto,” Nyoro said.
Speaking during an interview in a local radio station, the MP said allegations surrounding his ownership of Kenya Power shares were baseless, arguing that the issue was first reported in the media during the previous election period.
Nyoro said he had been investing in shares long before entering active politics and had consistently encouraged Kenyans to embrace investment as a way of building wealth.
“There’s no forum I attend that I don’t tell people about investment because it is something I have done since I was in the first year of university,” he said.
The Kiharu MP said he started buying Kenya Power shares gradually after the 2017 elections, with his average purchase price standing at about Sh1.80 per share, compared with the current price of about Sh24.
He challenged his critics to distinguish between genuine scrutiny and propaganda, warning that false accusations could ultimately damage the credibility of those making them.
“If you attack me with Kenya Power shares and it emerges to be just propaganda, will people ever believe you again even when telling the truth?” he posed.
Nyoro also accused some of his opponents of conducting coordinated media interviews aimed at discrediting him, saying some of those attacking him were individuals he had known for years.
He has faced questions over why he opted to form a new party instead of joining an existing opposition outfit, with some leaders arguing that the creation of another political vehicle could further fragment the opposition ahead of the 2027 General Election.
He defended the decision, saying the country currently has 90 political parties nationally and about 32 in the Mt Kenya region and that joining one of the existing parties would have restricted his ability to make a broader contribution to the opposition.
Nyoro said many of the politicians who had joined PPK were from different parts of the country and had deliberately stayed outside other opposition parties.
“Those aspirants knew there were other parties but had not joined them. If I joined another party, they would not have come,” he said.
"The way I’ve been holding rallies round the country, I am still filling the opposition’s basket. The issues we are facing, I believe, are teething problems,” he added.
The former chairperson of the National Assembly Budget and Appropriations Committee has also been criticised over his previous association with Ruto, particularly by some opposition figures.
Nyoro, however, said he would not allow his political past to become a permanent weapon against him, insisting that Kenyans should ultimately judge politicians on their record and credibility.
“I came to the opposition with humility and respect, but now I have decided that no one will be spreading lies about me, and I don’t respond,” he said.
He said he was prepared to accept the verdict of voters if they found his record wanting but would leave it to Kenyans to determine whether accusations against him were based on facts or political propaganda.
Nyoro urged opposition leaders to concentrate on issues affecting Kenyans rather than turning their energies against one another, warning that continued infighting could undermine their efforts to challenge the Kenya Kwanza administration.
“This country is facing serious issues. If we start mudslinging each other in the opposition, we will lose focus. It’s also good to tend to friendships. I may have a lot to say about some of them, but I don’t,” he said.
