‘You are jealous’: Nyoro rebukes Ichung’wah over 2027 presidential bid
Nyoro questioned Ichung’wah’s decision to lecture him and his newly formed People’s Party on political strategy, saying the National Assembly Majority Leader was not qualified to advise him on how to pursue his presidential ambitions.
Kiharu Member of Parliament and People’s Party of Kenya (PPK) boss Ndindi Nyoro has sharply rebuked National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, accusing him of jealousy and political intrigue after the Murang’a lawmaker weighed in on his 2027 presidential ambitions.
Nyoro questioned Ichung’wah’s decision to lecture him and his newly formed People’s Party on political strategy, saying the National Assembly Majority Leader was not qualified to advise him on how to pursue his presidential ambitions.
The public spat erupted after Ichung’wah welcomed Nyoro’s declaration that he would seek the presidency in the 2027 General Election, urging residents of Murang’a County to embrace the Kiharu MP and his political vehicle.
But Nyoro appeared unimpressed by the endorsement, recalling a meeting he had with Ichung’wah in 2024 and questioning why the Majority Leader had suddenly become interested in advising his party.
“Wewe mwenyewe unajua tulikaa chini tukaongea na wewe vizuri, ilikuwa mwaka wa 2024. Kwa hivyo, how all of a sudden do you come to People’s Party and start giving us lectures about what we should do?” Nyoro said.
He went on to launch a scathing attack on Ichung’wah.
“You are full of envy. You are jealous. You are conniving,” Nyoro said, before warning the Majority Leader: “Usijishughulishe na kutuhubiria kuhusu mambo ambayo hujui.”
Nyoro’s rebuke came as Mt Kenya leaders took sharply contrasting positions on his presidential declaration, laying bare the political calculations already shaping the region ahead of the 2027 election.
While Ichung’wah, a close ally of President William Ruto has embraced Nyoro’s bid, Kiambu Senator Karungo wa Thang’wa, a close ally of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, accused the Kiharu MP of playing into a strategy that could split the Mt Kenya vote and ultimately benefit President William Ruto.
DCP has already branded Nyoro as Ruto’s project doing political bidding to divide the Mt Kenya vote bloc to Ruto’s advantage in 2027 if he flies his PPK party candidature for president.
Thang’wa compared Nyoro’s bid to the 1992 presidential election, when Mwai Kibaki and Kenneth Matiba contested separately, dividing the Mt Kenya vote and helping the late President Daniel arap Moi retain power.
He cited revelations by former Moi-era communication chief Lee Njiru, who has described an alleged State strategy to encourage Matiba to contest the presidency alongside Kibaki.
Thang’wa played a clip of Njiru explaining how large crowds were allegedly organised for Matiba’s rallies in Mt Kenya and the Rift Valley to create the impression that he was overwhelmingly popular and destined for victory.
“That is exactly what Nyoro is out to achieve, to split the Mt Kenya vote. Did he not announce that he will tour all counties in Rift Valley, just like they set up Matiba?” Thang’wa asked.
Ichung’wah, however, has maintained that Nyoro’s bid should be embraced, arguing that it is time Murang’a produced a president.
Addressing residents in Kigumo and Gatanga, he said Murang’a should support Nyoro and his new party, which he described as a potential political vehicle for the region after the Ruto presidency.
“Political parties are vehicles to a certain destination,” Ichung’wah said, urging UDA grassroots leaders to embrace Nyoro’s political outfit.
The Majority Leader argued that while Kiambu had already produced presidents, Murang’a’s route to the national political table could be through Nyoro.
His remarks have, however, drawn a blunt response from Nyoro, turning what began as political endorsement into a fresh confrontation within the Mt Kenya camp as leaders position themselves for the 2027 contest.
