DCP, Ruto’s allies gang up on Nyoro

Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro is facing attacks from both allies of DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua and President William Ruto's camp.

Nyoro, who is also the leader of the People's Party of Kenya (PPK), is being accused of hypocrisy by Ruto's allies and political double-dealing by the Gachagua camp.

The latest salvo came from Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi, who challenged Nyoro to explain what he termed inconsistencies in his criticism of Ruto's business dealings.

Wamumbi, a vocal defender of the President, said the Kiharu MP could not position himself on opposing political sides simultaneously.

“You can’t be a mole on both sides, my brother. Remain on one side,” Wamumbi wrote in a social media post.

In the post, Wamumbi questioned Nyoro's conduct following his elevation to the chairmanship of the National Assembly Budget and Appropriations Committee.

He contrasted Nyoro’s criticism of Ruto’s business interests with what he described as Nyoro’s silence over the business dealings of former President Uhuru Kenyatta and Gachagua.

“His Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta is a businessman, has always been a businessman. Riggy G is a businessman, and has always been a businessman. You are not lecturing those but when Ruto does business, you make noise from morning to evening,” Wamumbi wrote.

He also threatened to reveal further information about Nyoro, saying: “Na ukiendelea niko na maneno yako ya kusema.”

Wamumbi's remarks add to criticism from Ruto's allies over Nyoro's increasingly vocal opposition to the administration he helped campaign for in 2022.

Ruto's aide Farouk Kibet has also criticised Nyoro's position, describing PPK as a small “wheelbarrow” that the President's camp had given him.

“Yours (PPK) is a small wheelbarrow that we gave you. But we didn't give it to you to go round saying things you don't understand and insulting the President,” Kibet said.

The criticism from the President's allies comes as Nyoro increasingly distances himself from the administration, raising questions about the circumstances surrounding his political break with Ruto and his ambitions under PPK.

But Nyoro has rejected suggestions that his political shift is part of a government-backed plan to divide the opposition.

The Kiharu MP has maintained that his decision to join the opposition is genuine and that he is committed to ensuring Ruto is not re-elected in 2027.

On October 22, Nyoro accused leaders affiliated with Gachagua's Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) of running a campaign to tarnish his reputation by repeatedly portraying him as a government mole and project.

He challenged Gachagua to rein in his allies, questioning why party resources were allegedly being used to organise attacks against him on vernacular radio and television programmes.

Nyoro argued that the attacks were diverting the opposition's attention from its main objective of challenging Ruto.

He also maintained that he would support whoever the opposition settles on as its presidential candidate in 2027, including himself if he emerged as the preferred choice.

The MP's defence comes amid repeated accusations from Gachagua's allies that he is working to undermine the opposition from within.

Allies of the former Deputy President have argued that Nyoro's separate political vehicle could fragment support in the Mt Kenya region and weaken DCP's influence.

Nyandarua Senator John Methu sustained the criticism on Sunday during an appearance on Inooro TV.

Methu, who is also the DCP secretary-general designate, accused Nyoro of being a mole working to fragment the opposition after the Kiharu MP hit back, questioning Methu's own links to Ruto.

The counteraccusations have also become personal, with the two sides exchanging claims over financial support.

Methu said Nyoro had not financed DCP's campaign, while Nyoro said Gachagua had personally requested support and that he gave money to Methu and Gachagua's personal assistant.

Maintaining that Nyoro was a mole, Methu said the Kiharu MP had advised him against forming a separate party because it would divide opposition votes, yet subsequently established PPK himself.

Nyoro disputes Methu's account of their political discussions.

Murang'a Woman Representative Betty Maina in August also accused Nyoro of hypocrisy, saying she would choose Gachagua over him if forced to pick between the two leaders.

She questioned Nyoro's silence during Gachagua's impeachment, arguing that his subsequent overtures towards the former Deputy President did not erase suspicions about his political intentions.

Nyoro has maintained that PPK offers an alternative platform for politicians who do not wish to join either UDA or DCP.

The exchanges highlight the challenge facing Nyoro as he attempts to build PPK outside both Ruto's UDA and Gachagua's DCP, while maintaining that his political ambitions do not amount to undermining the opposition.