NAIROBI, Kenya – Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro has declared that his People’s Party of Kenya (PPK) will not work with political leaders who have insulted or disrespected former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, setting out conditions for leaders seeking to join his new political camp.
Speaking on Wednesday, August 19, Nyoro said leaders, particularly those still affiliated with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), would have to make amends with Gachagua before being welcomed into his political formation.
He said the requirement would also apply to leaders who have attacked other figures within the emerging opposition alliance, including Jubilee Party’s Fred Matiang’i, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua.
“I saw some of the UDA leaders congratulating me for forming my party. If you are still in government and you have insulted Gachagua, the People’s Party has no time for you unless you go and make amends with him,” Nyoro said.
Nyoro demands apology to Gachagua
The Kiharu MP said leaders planning to defect from UDA to PPK would first have to visit Gachagua at his Wamunyoro home and apologise for remarks or actions directed against him.
Nyoro also said his party would not embrace politicians allegedly involved in the deployment of goons to churches, adding another condition to potential cooperation with former government allies.
His remarks signal an attempt to draw a clear political line between the opposition camp he says he has joined and leaders who have remained associated with President William Ruto’s administration.
Nyoro vows to oppose Ruto re-election
Nyoro acknowledged the scepticism surrounding his departure from UDA and questions over his decision to join the Opposition.
He insisted that his political intentions would become clear with time and reiterated that his objective was to prevent President Ruto from securing a second term in the 2027 General Election.
“Ruto is Kenya’s number one enemy. Ndindi Nyoro will not fight anyone who supports the mission to send him to Sugoi, or anyone who says ‘Wantam’,” he said.
“Sometimes I see that people do not understand me, but you will know my true colours in the near future. We must finish this journey to send him home,” Nyoro added.
The remarks come shortly after the Kiharu MP announced his departure from UDA and his association with PPK, amid growing political realignments ahead of the 2027 election.
DCP allies question Nyoro’s move
Nyoro’s declaration has not, however, ended questions about his political motives.
Some leaders allied to Gachagua’s Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) have questioned whether PPK is genuinely an independent opposition vehicle or whether it could ultimately benefit the Ruto administration.
Nyandarua Senator John Methu, who also serves as DCP Secretary General, has described PPK as a “wheelbarrow party” allegedly deployed to weaken Gachagua’s influence and split the Mt Kenya vote.
Methu has also questioned the circumstances surrounding Nyoro’s move, claiming that DCP had prior knowledge that the MP was planning to leave UDA.
He further raised questions about how PPK was able to become Nyoro’s political vehicle while other parties, including Linda Mwananchi, have faced lengthy registration processes.
PPK is not a newly formed party
However, available records challenge the suggestion that PPK was recently created to facilitate Nyoro’s political move.
The People’s Party of Kenya has existed since 1996 and was recertified under the Political Parties Act in April 2012.
This means Nyoro’s move does not involve the creation of an entirely new political party, although his adoption of the party as his political vehicle has triggered renewed scrutiny of its history and ownership.
The dispute reflects the growing competition for political influence in Mt Kenya, where several parties and political formations are positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 elections.
Battle for Mt Kenya vote intensifies
Nyoro’s latest remarks place him in a delicate political position as he seeks to distance himself from UDA while also navigating scepticism from politicians allied to Gachagua.
His insistence that potential allies must respect Gachagua could provide an avenue for cooperation with the DCP leader and other opposition figures, while his stated objective of defeating Ruto could bring his party closer to the broader opposition coalition.
At the same time, accusations that PPK could be an extension of UDA are likely to remain a major political talking point as Nyoro begins building his new political network.
With the 2027 election approaching, the competition to control the Mt Kenya vote is expected to intensify, with Nyoro, Gachagua and Ruto’s allies likely to remain central figures in the contest.
