Collage of MP Ndindi Nyoro and Senator John Methu. Photo/HandoutThe political rivalry between Nyandarua Senator John Methu and Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro has reignited debate over the emergence of a new generation of leaders in Mt Kenya, with the two youthful politicians increasingly taking opposing positions.
Nyoro, a two-term MP and leader of the Peoples Party of Kenya (PPK), has faced claims from political rivals questioning his political independence and suggesting that his party could weaken the vote-rich region.
Since joining PPK on August 17 and subsequently aligning himself with the Opposition, Nyoro has been described as a State “mole” by some of his political rivals.
Among those who have publicly questioned his political alignment is Methu, the youthful Nyandarua senator who is also the Secretary-General-designate of Rigathi Gachagua-led Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP).
In a television interview on Sunday, October 11, Methu said he believed Nyoro’s decision to establish and join PPK had received State backing.
“When I heard him say he has a party, I couldn't believe my ears because it is he who told me that another party is a creation of (the president). This same offer of forming a party was given to others. If I were to name moles, then I think the name Ndindi Nyoro will feature prominently,” Methu said.
Nyoro hit back at Methu, urging him to tone down his criticism of opposition leaders, maintaining that the opposition remained united ahead of the 2027 General Election.
“We are telling you, while in opposition, reduce your anger, envy and jealousy. We as opposition are united. Let's stop lying,” he said.
The latest exchange comes against the backdrop of Gachagua's earlier remarks about a “wheelbarrow” party being formed in Murang’a.
On August 17, Gachagua said he believed the administration intended to introduce alternative political parties to accommodate allies who could not survive under the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
“[The state] intends to introduce different coloured wheelbarrows to accommodate allies who know they cannot survive with UDA in the coming elections,” Gachagua said.
“We are aware of a small wheelbarrow coming up in Murang’a. We will announce it and shout about it when it is done,” he added.
The exchanges have fuelled speculation about whether Methu and Nyoro are emerging as contenders for the political leadership of Mt Kenya, amid debate over the region's next generation of leaders following the exit of former president Uhuru Kenyatta.
Nyoro, born in 1985, is 41 years old, while Methu, born on February 14, 1991, is 35 years old.
Nyoro, who hails from Murang’a, was first elected to Parliament in 2017 on a Jubilee Party ticket before retaining his seat in 2022 on a UDA ticket. Methu, from Nyandarua, was elected senator in 2022 on a UDA ticket.
Since Gachagua left for the United States on August 26, Methu has also been leading DCP activities in different parts of the country.
Nyoro, meanwhile, has increasingly aligned himself with Peoples Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua and Jubilee presidential candidate Fred Matiang’i, both of whom have had an on-and-off political relationship with Gachagua.
At one point, Karua publicly supported Nyoro as questions about his political alignment intensified.
Speaking during an interview on Inooro FM’s Hagaria Breakfast Show on September 9, Karua urged Opposition supporters to allow Nyoro to join the coalition without suspicion.
“A young man called Ndindi Nyoro came, and started being pointed. You, who are pointing him were on the same side he was. You also came and we received you. Allow Ndindi to come like other people,” Karua said.
Political analyst King’ori Murache says the rivalry reflects a wider contest over the region’s political future following the exit of former president Uhuru Kenyatta and uncertainty over Gachagua's political prospects after his impeachment.
“Both are looking at their political future. By having his own political vehicle, Nyoro is looking at possible political leadership beyond 2027. Methu is equally following Nyoro’s footsteps. Gachagua publicly admitted that he is mentoring Methu,” says Murache.
Murache says Methu has been seeking to establish himself as a key figure in Mt Kenya politics following DCP's victory in the Ol Kalou by-election on July 16.
“By repeatedly referring to how they beat State in its own game in Ol Kalou, Methu has been trying to carve his own political path in Mt Kenya through Gachagua,” says Murache.
The analyst says Methu has also questioned Nyoro's political credentials, citing his alleged links to the State, his abstention during Gachagua's impeachment and his support for the controversial Finance Bill 2024.
“Nyoro may not be a mole. However, the ‘mole’ politics are used to discredit him. It’s a game we shall keep seeing,” says Murache.
He adds that Nyoro's decision to join PPK could be aimed at positioning himself for a senior political role in 2032 rather than an immediate presidential bid in 2027.
“Being relatively young and energetic politicians, both have chances to assume the region’s leadership. What matters is how they will repackage themselves post-2027,” says Murache.
