People’s Party of Kenya leader Ndindi Nyoro has opened up about how he fell out with President William Ruto, saying his decision not to support the impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua marked the start of their fallout.
Appearing on TV on Wednesday, September 3, Nyoro said his relationship with Ruto did not end suddenly.
Instead, he said the distance between them grew over time as they differed on major political issues.
“It was more of a process, and there was no single event. The last political conversation we ever had was about me not participating in the impeachment,” Nyoro explained.
Ndindi Nyoro Opens Up on Split With Ruto
Nyoro said he was one of Ruto’s strongest supporters during the 2022 General Election campaign and traveled across the country campaigning for the Kenya Kwanza alliance.
He said he was also very close to Gachagua and other leaders in the coalition.
The Kiharu MP said the first signs of trouble appeared in 2024 during a meeting involving Mt Kenya leaders.
According to him, they planned to present then Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki as the region’s link to the government.
Nyoro said Ruto called him about the planned meeting.
However, after the conversation, he felt the path being taken was not one he could support.
“I knew this was a route I can’t take,” he said.
He said the situation worsened when efforts to impeach Gachagua began.
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At the time, Nyoro chaired the National Assembly Budget and Appropriations Committee and remained an influential figure in government.
Nyoro said MPs began signing documents to support Gachagua’s removal, but he refused.
He said President Ruto, who was in New York at the time, learned that he had not signed and later contacted him.
When the two eventually met, Nyoro said he made his stand clear.
“I told him out of conscience, not political considerations, I would not get involved in the impeachment,” Nyoro said.
The MP said he neither supported the impeachment process nor took part in activities linked to the installation of the current Deputy President.
According to Nyoro, things changed after that decision.
He said that although he remained Budget Committee chairperson for some time, he was no longer part of key government discussions and decisions.
Nyoro said he was later removed from the powerful committee position before eventually being kicked out of the committee altogether.
He added that some people expected him to plead for political favor after losing his position, but he refused.
Secret Links to the Government and Relationship with Gachagua
The MP also dismissed claims that he is secretly working with President Ruto or has been sent to weaken the opposition.
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He insisted he left the government’s side long ago and has consistently criticized some of its decisions.
Nyoro pointed to concerns he raised over the government’s sale of Safaricom shares and claims involving state-linked business interests as evidence that he has not been supporting the administration.
The People’s Party leader also spoke about his relationship with Gachagua, saying the two leaders still enjoy a good working relationship and communicate whenever necessary.
Nyoro defended his decision to join the People’s Party and rejected claims that the party was formed to divide support in the Mt Kenya region.
He said the party existed long before he joined it and is now attracting members and aspirants from different parts of the country.
According to him, the party has already attracted more than 1,000 aspirants.
He also called on opposition leaders to work together and agree on one presidential candidate and one running mate ahead of the 2027 General Election.
While he avoided officially declaring his presidential ambitions, Nyoro strongly hinted that he believes he is ready to lead the country.
He said he has used his time away from the center of power to think deeply about Kenya’s problems and possible solutions.
“I don’t believe there is a person more prepared in Kenya to lead this country than Ndindi Nyoro,” he told Jeff Koinange on Citizen TV.
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