By Anderson Ojwang
The press conference was a bombshell.
Allies turning on one another.
No communication, and the whip cracked.
The Murima could be spitting fire after the revelation.
The cracks in the Kenya Kwanza Coalition (KK) of President William Ruto have been laid bare by the immediate former Budget and Appropriation Committee Chairman, Ndindi Nyoro
At a press conference in Nairobi, Ndindi, a once close and staunch ally of Ruto and his key point persons in Mt Kenya and nationally, revealed that he last spoke to the president in October last year.
Ndindi also revealed that he did not know why he was replaced, and nobody called and consulted him over the recent changes in the parliament committee leadership and that the leadership of the coalitions had not reached out to him on the subject matter.
“I do not know why I was replaced. I am saying it in good faith. I didn’t come here to accuse anyone today. I only came to set the record straight.
No one in the leadership of our coalition, from whichever position, has ever called me in regard to the position. In regard to what I need to do better. In regard to what I need to change. In regards things that needed to be done in a different manner.
It is very good for me to put the record straight. I was holding this position knowing that I was serving Kenyans. So, I am answerable to Kenyans too.
In sincerity, there is none who has ever called me. The decision makers of our coalition. That is the truth, “he said.
Ndindi was recently replaced by Alego MP Mr. Sam Atandi, a member of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Atandi became the first MP from Nyanza to hold the powerful parliamentary committee chair 60 years after independence.
Atandi had earlier, before his election, at a funeral in his village, hinted that Raila had promised him a powerful seat and asked his voters to support the broad-based government.
Recently, President Ruto and Raila signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the engagement between ODM and UDA.
Before the signing of the MOU and during Genz’s protest over the controversial Finance Bill, Raila and Ruto formed a broad-based government that witnessed senior ODM leaders, John Mbadi, Hassan Joho, Wycliff Oparanya and Opiyo Wandayi appointed to the cabinet.
Interestingly, the political union between Raila and Ruto allowed the latter to successfully preside over the impeachment of his deputy, Rigathi Gachagua.
Currently, Gachagua has declared an all onslaught on President Ruto for what he alleges betrayal of the Mt Kenya community and is working with the opposition politicians, Martha Karua and Kalonzo Musyoka, with a view to clinching power in 2027.
Ndindi responded on his relationship with President Ruto saying that they last spoke in October last year and have not spoken for six months.
“The position I held is a consultative position. Before a decision is made, there has to be consultation.
But as I said before that I have not had any conversation directly or on the phone with any leader of our coalition in regard to the position I used to hold.
I respect everybody. I am the type of person who believes that one doesn’t just become a leader by being picked.
There are processes they go through. Because I am one and I know. I respect every leader.
Maybe for clarity’s sake, the last discussion was with the president of the country.
The last political discussion, either a chat or discussion, as it were, was before October last year, and I wouldn’t want, and you permit me not to discuss any further on any leader because, as you all are aware, I stopped serving in my position hardly a week.
Also need to understand many things before I talk. As a leader, I need people, there are people who look up to us as leaders. In this world, I only fear God.
We are given wisdom on what and how to say.”
The revelation of Ndindi is likely to ignite a political rebellion in Mt Kenya, which is becoming hostile to the president.
Mt Kenya was Ruto’s main political block in the last general election, and the votes he secured from the region enabled him to win the presidency.
Ndindi said he doesn’t regret leaving the office but warned that those who are at the vantage point should treat people better.
“No Regrets, what I believe is that I am the sum of my experience, both good and bad.
If I want to remove any bad experience from my CV, that is as a human being. Therefore, very rarely will I have regrets, but lessons. Treat people better. If at some point you feel you have been wronged, I always believe in that opportunity to know how to treat people better when you are at a vantage point.
