Ndindi's new political gamble and how he shot himself in the foot

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Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro speaking during the launch of the institute's annual national shadow budget for 2025-26 financial year. [Wilberforce Okwiri,Standard]

Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, who has ambitions for the highest office, announced that he had quit President William Ruto’s UDA to take a shot at opposition politics by leading a small political party, People's Party of Kenya (PPK). He imagines himself to be a revived Kenneth Matiba, former Kiharu MP who dared and took risks that included climbing the tallest mountains in the world and in approaching politics differently. But unlike Matiba, Ndindi appears to prevaricate and ‘play safe’ instead of taking positions of principle. By prevaricating, Ndindi depleted his initial political capital while watching Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna harvest youthful public support by championing what worried people.

Ndindi was part of the Ruto ‘new wave’ politicians who in 2017 swept the Jubilee primaries, along with his CDF boss Irungu Kang’ata, to romp to victory. As Kang’ata replaced Kembi Gitura as Murang’a Senator, Ndindi inherited Kang’ata’s Kiharu seat, thereby making the two a formidable team of Murang’a performers. They attracted national attention and showed their political independence by campaigning for Ruto in 2022 against President Uhuru Kenyatta’s support for Raila Odinga. Having warned Uhuru in a letter that the political tide was against his (Uhuru's) wishes, Kang’ata acquired the title of ‘Kang’ata wa Barua’ and became governor of Murang’a using Ruto’s UDA banner. Ndindi, besides retaining his Kiharu seat, became Chairman of the Parliamentary Budget Committee.