Since announcing his defection from the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) to the Peoples Party of Kenya (PPK) on August 17, Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro has found himself navigating an increasingly complicated political landscape.
What may have been expected to be a smooth transition into a new political outfit has instead triggered a series of confrontations, with some allies of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua accusing him of being a State “mole” sent to disrupt the opposition’s political strategy.
The accusations have forced Nyoro to repeatedly defend his decision, raising questions about whether his move to PPK was entirely his own or whether he enjoys the backing of powerful political figures.
The controversy took a new turn on October 24 when President William Ruto’s aide Farouk Kibet suggested that Nyoro had “gone too far” in his criticism of the government.
“We know you. You are a small wheelbarrow. We did not give you that small wheelbarrow to go and say things which you are not sure of,” Kibet said.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale issued similar remarks over the weekend, suggesting that Nyoro’s political platform was not entirely independent.
“We gave [Ndindi Nyoro] a small wheelbarrow, and he forgot himself. He does not know that the wheelbarrow belongs to us. He started insulting the President. I have given him an ultimatum; if you play around, we shall seize your wheelbarrow,” Duale said.
The remarks added another dimension to the controversy, with allies of Gachagua questioning Nyoro’s intentions while figures associated with the President appeared to suggest that his new political vehicle owed its existence to them.
Before Kibet and Duale weighed in, Nyoro had already clashed with Naivasha MP Jane Kihara, a close ally of Gachagua, who questioned his political independence.
Kihara claimed Nyoro had been deployed to advance the “Wantam” campaign against Ruto, arguing that his political associates within the government had not subjected him to the same criticism directed at other opposition figures.
“Ndindi Nyoro has been sent to say ‘Wantam’. Why have Oscar Sudi, Aaron Cheruiyot, Itumbi and Farouk never insulted Ndindi Nyoro? Because he is their boy,” she claimed.
Nyoro responded by accusing Kihara of pushing him towards a confrontation he had been reluctant to engage in because of their age difference.
“Jayne Kihara, there are things I chose not to do for politics, including disrespecting someone who is old enough to be my parent. I called her and told her that she is trying to push me to the wall because if I speak, she will hate me,” he said.
He added that he would respond whenever he felt his reputation was being undermined by falsehoods.
“I told her that I would say very hard truths which are more painful than the lies that she is peddling. I told her that if she speaks the truth, I will not respond, but if she tells lies, I will not keep quiet,” he said.
As the exchanges intensify, Nyoro maintains that his critics are unhappy because he did not join their respective political parties.
He has also questioned why his decision has attracted such scrutiny when numerous parties operate within the Mt Kenya region.
“There are 32 political parties in Mt Kenya region. There are 90 political parties in Kenya. Jimmy Wanjigi’s ancestry [who has a political party] is in Murang’a. There’s Martha Karua who comes from Kirinyaga. There’s Muturi [Justin] with Kibaki’s DP,” he said.
Nyoro further pointed out that PPK was founded by individuals from Limuru, Kiambu County, arguing that its regional roots should not make his membership controversial.
“Those who founded and handed us PPK come from Limuru. Where is Limuru located?” he posed.
“Whether I joined DP, PLP or PPK; what’s the difference because these parties come from the same region?”
The Kiharu legislator says his decision was informed by the need for political flexibility and an opportunity to contribute to the opposition without necessarily joining established parties.
The controversy has also revived scrutiny of Nyoro’s past political relationship with Ruto.
On March 31 last year, during his tour of Mt Kenya, the President described Nyoro as a promising young politician whom he was mentoring, while noting that the election of parliamentary committee chairpersons was the responsibility of MPs.
“Ndindi Nyoro is a very fine young man. I am mentoring him. However, the election of Parliamentary Committee chairmen is done by MPs,” Ruto said.
Nyoro later disputed the President’s remarks, saying they angered him and prompted him to consider publicly setting the record straight.
In an interview with Inooro TV on December 23, 2025, the MP said he had contemplated holding a press conference to challenge the President’s account.
“I contemplated of holding a press conference because those remarks really angered me,” he said.
He questioned how the President could claim to be mentoring him when, in his view, the statement did not reflect the reality of their relationship.
“I wondered, how would a person say that they are mentoring someone, yet they know the truth in their hearts,” he said.
Nyoro disclosed that he sought advice from trusted religious leaders before deciding how to respond.
“In that process, I called a few people. I called one bishop who is my friend. I told him that I wanted to call the press to clarify [the President’s remarks], because that was not the truth,” he said.
Although Gachagua has largely avoided mentioning Nyoro directly, remarks by his allies have kept the dispute alive, leaving the Kiharu MP under pressure to explain his political positioning.
Political analyst James Mwangi says Nyoro must work to counter the narratives surrounding his defection if he hopes to overcome the “mole” label.
“While propaganda is one of the many aspects of politics, Ndindi has to do everything he can to counter those narratives,” Mwangi said.
