For the first time, Mr Nyoro has broken the political silence that had earned him the label of a “watermelon,” saying the impeachment of Mr Gachagua was an act of political illiteracy that lacked wisdom and foresight regarding its ramifications," which prompted him to drift away from President William Ruto’s loyal camp.
In a media interview aired on Tuesday, the MP said the decision to impeach Mr Gachagua was not subjected to a proper assessment of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, risks or timing.
“I advised that serious consideration be given to the number of people who would feel aggrieved by the decision and that the choice to impeach or not be based on such analysis. Unfortunately, I was not taken seriously,” he said.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua at the National Assembly during the debate on the motion to impeach him on October 8, 2024.
Photo credit: Dennis Onsongo | Nation Media Group
Mr Nyoro said he tried to “hammer sense” into the framers of the impeachment motion, which was tabled by Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse, but his counsel was ignored.
“I advised that we differentiate between ideological political differences that could be reconciled and personal grudges. Miscalculation carried the day and here we are,” he said.
Mr Nyoro’s political star had begun to shine brighter after President Ruto was sworn in on September 13, 2022. At the time, popular opinion suggested the Kiharu MP was being primed to replace Mr Gachagua as the Mt Kenya kingpin—long before impeachment became part of the political conversation.
During his prolonged silence after the impeachment, it was widely believed within Mr Gachagua’s inner circle that Mr Nyoro was part of the plot to remove the former deputy president.
Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu, for instance, openly urged President Ruto to replace Mr Gachagua with Mr Nyoro as his running mate in 2027 to boost re-election chances.
Mr Nyutu accused Mr Gachagua of treating junior leaders with contempt, being divisive and lacking the political acumen to help President Ruto secure a second term.
“If you go into 2027 with Mr Gachagua as your running mate, you will have problems. The only person who can unite Mt Kenya and help you win is Nyoro,” Mr Nyutu declared at the time—though he has since morphed into one of Mr Gachagua’s staunchest supporters.
Mr Nyoro now insists there is no political marriage between him and President Ruto, even after the president, while on a six-day Mt Kenya tour on April 1, 2025, described him as “a politician of great promise whom I am mentoring for bigger roles in the future.”
In what has sent mixed signals, Mr Nyoro’s youthful loyalists have been traversing Murang’a County campaigning for President Ruto’s re-election even as the MP himself carves out a personal niche by issuing pointed statements critical of the Kenya Kwanza administration, particularly over what he terms a “poor” economy.
National Assembly Chairperson on Budget Committee Samuel Atandi.
Photo credit: Jared Nyataya | Nation Media Group
His political standing became even more complicated after the formation of the Broad-Based Government, which saw him removed from the powerful Budget and Appropriations Committee and reassigned to the relatively low-profile Diaspora and Immigrant Workers Committee.
While Mr Nyoro initially projected himself as an independent political actor—fueling speculation that he was eyeing a third force—Mr Gachagua and his allies remained suspicious, urging him to either openly join their camp in the bid to make President Ruto a one-term leader or risk being viewed as a project meant to split the Mt Kenya vote.
In a recent interview, Mr Gachagua publicly challenged Mr Nyoro to declare his political allegiance.
“Make your stand on Mt Kenya interests known. Your silence is not helpful. We want to know our numbers. Community matters are not for the silent,” Mr Gachagua said during an interview on Inooro TV.
As Mr Nyoro’s predicament deepened, he appeared determined to safeguard his political relevance by consolidating his base in Kiharu. Reports have since emerged that, in collaboration with a Mt Kenya-based governor, he has discreetly taken control of a political party to deploy in the 2027 elections.
Political analysts say Mr Nyoro’s evolving stance is set to significantly influence national politics.
“We are witnessing a Mt Kenya region oscillating among three major formations—those aligned with the president, those backing former president Uhuru Kenyatta and his preferred candidate Fred Matiang’i, and those rallying behind Mr Gachagua,” says political analyst Samuel Wang’ombe.
Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
Mr Wang’ombe argues that Mr Nyoro’s decision to abandon the middle ground and align himself with the United Opposition—where he has spoken positively about Mr Gachagua—has elevated his political value.
“The path Nyoro initially pursued was dangerous in a region increasingly disillusioned with the Ruto administration and biding its time to exact ballot revenge in 2027,” he says.
He cites past cases of politicians such as Martha Karua, Peter Kenneth and Wangari Maathai who were rejected by Mt Kenya voters for defying the region’s political mood.
“We saw the region punish Mr Kenyatta in 2022 for what voters perceived as betrayal when he backed Raila Odinga. We have also seen Mt Kenya revive Mr Gachagua’s fortunes because they believe he champions their interests. Nyoro has always known the ground is hard—hence his decision to realign,” Mr Wang’ombe said.
Mr Nyoro has dampened political Christmas for President William Ruto by ruling out any pact between them ahead of the 2027 elections.
“President Ruto has been attempting to portray me as his current political ally, but it is a lie,” he said in the interview.
He described the President’s remarks on April 1, 2025, at State Lodge Sagana—where Ruto claimed to be mentoring him—as “very offensive.”
“I took the utterances in total irritation and even called my bishop to seek blessings before convening a media conference to confront the Head of State,” he said.
Mr Nyoro explained that after discussing the matter with his bishop and other confidants, he was advised to exercise patience.
“That explains why I have been silent. I am no longer an ally of the President and I am not part of his current political script. There are those trying to drag me into his mess, but I am not in it,” he added.
Part of the reason for his drift away from President Ruto, Mr Nyoro said, was the 2024 impeachment of Gachagua who had served only two years in office.
Nyoro accused former President Uhuru Kenyatta of a “ruthless crackdown” on Mt Kenya dissenters ahead of the 2022 General Election targeting Gachagua and other allies of Ruto. He recounted that Gachagua often hid in his home while police searched for him.
On perceptions that he orchestrated the impeachment or undermined Gachagua, Nyoro said, “Politics is a tussle—a game of elbowing each other for prominence. But there was never malice or intent to cut others down.”
He said he will now focus on serving his Kiharu constituents while keeping national conversations alive on democracy, the economy and good governance.
Though he did not clarify what his statement means for Wantam, Tutam or Third Force political formations, he urged patience as he studies the political tides.
