Ndindi Nyoro gambles as DCP mistrusts his move

Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro’s decision to ditch UDA and join the People’s Party of Kenya (PPK) has rekindled memories of another political gamble in Mt Kenya, that of former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth, who went against the prevailing political wave by joining the Kenya National Congress (KNC) party.

The two leaders have striking similarities; their constituencies are domiciled in Murang'a County, they served for two terms in Parliament before charting independent paths away from the party euphoria and waves and both earned widespread acclaim and awards for transforming their constituencies into an urban-standard model of efficiency, transparency, and infrastructure development.

Kenneth was elected Gatanga MP in 2002 through a popular party in the region, The National Rainbow Coalition (Narc) and was re-elected in 2007 through the Party of National Unity (PNU), which the government of day used to seek re-election while Nyoro was elected Kiharu MP in 2017 through the popular Jubilee party and sought fresh mandate through the UDA party which was a party of the moment.

In 2013, Kenneth, in an attempt to chart an independent political path, joined the KNC party, a decision that ultimately stalled his presidential ambitions and later his bid for the gubernatorial seat even after retracing his footsteps and joining the Jubilee party, which was his region’s political party of choice.

With Nyoro taking a similarly divergent route, political analysts ponder whether he will end up walking in Kenneth’s footsteps or whether he has a different political calculation that will salvage his political career.

Political analysts contend that a stellar constituency report card does not automatically convert into national political networks or mass voter mobilisation and have cautioned Nyoro to also factor in regional alignments such as the growing popularity of Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and his Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP).

On Monday, Nyoro announced that his decision to join the PPK followed nearly a year of consultations and introspection, during which he engaged several opposition leaders, including Gachagua, People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua, former Cabinet Secretaries Peter Munya and Fred Matiang'i, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Siaya Governor James Orengo.

Despite his assertions that he had engaged other Opposition leaders, only Siaya Governor James Orengo was a notable Opposition figure in his televised address, with Wundanyi MP Danson Mwashako and Senator Okong'o Omogeni being the only elected leaders who graced his big announcement day.

He called on Kenyans to consider the People's Party of Kenya alongside other opposition formations as they assess the leaders seeking to take over government after the 2027 elections.

Mkiangalia viongozi wale watapeleka Kenya mbele from next year, I also ask humbly the people of Kenya, muangalie pia People's Party. Pia wao wako na viongozi wanaweza shikana mkono na wengine na tukomboe Kenya August of next year,” Nyoro said.

The MP said his move to the opposition was also informed by his dissatisfaction with UDA, which he referred to as the “wheelbarrow party”.

“For the avoidance of doubt, I know you all know we left government a long time ago and dissociated with the wheelbarrow party, the UDA. Vile naona, hata wenye wheelbarrow wenyewe watatoka waiwache,” he said.

Hours after declaring that he had joined the PPK, DCP leaders led by the party’s Secretary General John Methu dismissed the party as President William Ruto’s wheelbarrow, claiming the party was aimed at dividing the Mt Kenya region.

Methu, who addressed a section of Wiper Front Party (WFP) leaders who visited Gachagua’s Wamunyoro residence, said the President had realised that his UDA party had lost the mojo and therefore hatched a plot to introduce smaller parties.

“Since he knows that he tricked us by getting to his party and he has sensed that the people of this region have gotten their own party and they have their own leader- one community, one party, one leader- he has now decided to cut down this community to size. He thinks he can take this community back to 1992. I am sorry to Mr Ruto, these wheelbarrows that are coming up- we saw one that was launched yesterday and others are coming. It is being prepared in Laikipia, Nakuru and many others, will not see the light of day,” he said.

He added, “After these wheelbarrows, we will understand that you will introduce new Presidential candidates and bring them on; we shall deal with them the way we have dealt with the bigger wheelbarrows,” he said.

On his part, Mukurwe-ini MP John Kaguchia said the region was under Gachagua’s tight grip, saying Nyoro would have joined DCP since Gachagua had already galvanised the region.

“Gachagua had talked about Ruto’s strategy on divide and rule. I would like to let Nyoro know that Mt Kenya needs unity. When we say that it is one mountain, one party, it is not about selfish interests; it is because we know that Ruto has started a strategy on divide and rule. Moi sponsored Matiba without Matiba knowing, and he could mobilise people behind him and this propped Matiba, who got excited and could not agree to sit down with Matiba to field one candidate against Moi, following his ‘let the people decide’ slogan; his camp divided the Opposition and Moi won,” he said.

Prof Gitile Naituli, a political analyst, said although there were claims that Nyoro’s party could be a solace to UDA politicians from the Mt Kenya region, the move, if confirmed to be true, could prove catastrophic against Nyoro’s political career since there was an enormous difference between building a political movement and providing an emergency exit for politicians running away from an unpopular brand.

He said the Ol Kalou by-election was a testament that political parties and politicians can no longer assume that endorsement by the government automatically translates into acceptance by the electorate.