From Nyoro to Kindiki: How Ruto allies flip-flop on DP replacement

Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro addresses a past rally. [File, Standard]

Three months ago, Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro was eternally airborne attending one meeting after another as the chief guest, honouring his peers’ calls and was the face of anti-Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua push.

He represented President William Ruto in many church fundraisers where he donated loads of cash varying from Sh1 million to Sh3 million. The many MPs who surrounded him called him the 6th while others from Murang’a said that Kiambu and Nyeri had taken them for a ride for far too long as the two counties have produced prime ministers and presidents and now Gachagua is the deputy president.

Although he never directly attacked the deputy president, the leaders who always accompanied him claimed 2027 will be ‘Muranga’s time’ while others pushed for  ‘a generational card’ to present Nyoro as the best suited leader to replace Gachagua.

In January this year, Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu said it was time for Murang’a to be recognised in national politics saying the president will be celebrated by the electorate if he chose Nyoro as his running mate during the 2027 election as opposed to ‘Gachagua’ who runs a divisive agenda.

 “Mt Kenya can’t afford to be in the hands of a condescending leader who goes about disparaging leaders in the eyes of higher authorities,” Nyutu claimed.

Murang’a Women Rep Betty Maina said “Nyoro is a national leader who is ripe to represent the country as the second in command.”

On his part, Gatanga MP Edward Muriu said “women of Murang’a also give birth to leaders, and Nyoro is qualified enough to deputise Ruto and become a leader.”

But that was then, Nyoro has in the last few weeks taken a low political profile with Ruto’s allies now pushing for Interior and Coordination of Government Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki as Gachagua’s replacement. A faction of Mt Kenya region leaders has since endorsed him while his native council of elders Nchuri Ncheke have picked him as their spokesperson.

The MPs who acted as Nyoro’s mouthpiece are also in different camps. Nyutu and Muriu who were once his harshest critics are now his mouthpiece while Ms Maina who was one of her biggest advocates is in Kindiki’s camp.

In Murang’a county where Nyoro hails from, majority of the MPs who were Gachagua’s critics have crossed over over to his side. They include Nyutu, Muriu, Peter Kihungi (Kangema) Mary Waithira (Maragua) Kamau Munyoro (Kigumo). The county has seven constituencies.

The paradigm shift from Nyoro to Kindiki  was witnessed after the protests that were largely propelled by the Generation Z. Sources claimed the Gen Z card was pushed to have  Nyoro change his anti-Gachagua push while others claim, Gen Z demos coincided with a truce between the president and his deputy  that called the youthful MPs to order.

“We had been cautioned to go slow on Gachagua, but after the protests, their friendship went sour and that is how we went back to politics this time with Kindiki since Nyoro did not want to dirty his name in the political mud,” an MP who requested not to be named said.

Nyoro has avoided public debate on current affairs, and has avoided commenting on the ongoing impeachment debate against Gachagua. When he visits his constituency, he only discusses his development plan for his Constituency. He is no longer nation-trotting appearing in fundraisers. While pro-Ruto leaders maintain Nyoro is still on their side and will support the impeachment motion against Gachagua, he avoided our calls regarding the matter.

But pro Gachagua leaders claim Nyoro’s tactical move was a strategy after realising that the president was toying with the sons of Mt Kenya region using a divide and rule card.

Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba said being well schooled, Nyoro must have learnt in history how Kiambu leaders were used by the powers that be to fight their son Josephat Njuguna Karanja in the lead up to his impeachment in 1989 in an onslaught that was led by then Embakasi Mp David Mwenje and then Limuru MP Kuria Kanyingi.

“He is a school boy just as I am a school girl, he must have learnt that he was being used to help Ruto divide Mt Kenya region for his own political expediency,” she said.

She added ‘The card to have Nyoro also failed terribly and that is why they tried to cherry pick Kindiki, but that too will fail, they can’t toy with the minds of Mt Kenya region constituents, the more they fight Gachagua, the more they voice him more impetus to solidify his backyard,” the Githunguri Mp said.

On his part lawyer Wahome Gikonyo said the tactic was first deployed in 1992 to subdue ‘one of the country’s arguably most formidable political bloc – the Mount Kenya region – and I dare say this scheme will come crumbling down like a wobbly house of cards!’

 “The dynamics of the 2022 elections actually help to better predict why this latest divide and rule scheme of the mountain will come crumbling, and why any of the Mt Kenya leaders eying political survival must change tact,” the lawyer said.