Ndindi Nyoro dumps UDA, joins opposition as 2027 politics takes shape
Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro has formally broken ranks with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), announcing that he and his supporters have joined the opposition ahead of Kenya’s 2027 General Election. Speaking. . .
Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro has formally broken ranks with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), announcing that he and his supporters have joined the opposition ahead of Kenya’s 2027 General Election. Speaking at Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi on Monday, Nyoro said he had made the decision after nearly a year of consultations with political leaders and extensive reflection on Kenya’s political direction. Among those he said he had engaged were former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua, former Cabinet Secretaries Peter Munya and Fred Matiang’i, DCP's Rigathi Gachagua, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and Siaya Governor James Orengo. Nyoro said his consultations were guided by what he described as a desire to put the interests of Kenyans ahead of personal political considerations. “I have been carrying a heavy burden. I have been thinking and praying that in whatever direction I take, politically speaking, the people of Kenya must be the great consideration that I have,” he said. From Government Insider to Opposition FigureThe Kiharu legislator, who was elected on a UDA ticket in 2022, said his experience in government had given him a broader understanding of the country's challenges and the changes he believes are necessary. He argued that Kenya should emerge from the 2027 elections stronger than it was at the end of former President Mwai Kibaki’s administration. Nyoro also reflected on the difference between seeking power and exercising it, saying his time in government had taught him that governing is considerably more difficult than campaigning. “Through the lessons of campaigns and the lessons during governance, I have come to appreciate that it is easier to campaign than to govern,” he said. New Political HomeNyoro announced that he and his supporters had formally joined the People's Party of Kenya, positioning the party as part of the opposition ahead of the 2027 contest. He urged voters to consider the party alongside other opposition formations when assessing potential leaders who could form the next government. The MP also suggested that the People's Party of Kenya could cooperate with other opposition parties, particularly those that share similar political objectives. Countrywide Political ToursFollowing his declaration, Nyoro said he would embark on political tours across the country to engage directly with voters. Uasin Gishu, Kericho and Nandi are among the counties he plans to visit. He said the tours would provide an opportunity to discuss with Kenyans the performance of the government they elected in 2022 and the country's political future. Sharp Criticism of UDANyoro also took aim at his former party, referring to UDA as the “wheelbarrow party” and suggesting that more members could eventually leave the party. He said he and his supporters had already distanced themselves from the ruling party before formally making their move into the opposition. His departure marks a notable shift for a politician who had previously been regarded as one of the prominent voices associated with the Kenya Kwanza administration. Opposition Leaders Attend EventSeveral opposition figures attended Nyoro’s announcement at Safari Park Hotel, including Siaya Governor James Orengo, Wundanyi MP Danson Mwashako and Senator Okong’o Omogeni. With the 2027 elections approaching, Nyoro’s move adds another significant development to an increasingly fluid political landscape, where opposition parties are already exploring possible alliances and new political formations. His decision to join the People's Party of Kenya could therefore become part of wider efforts to build a united opposition front ahead of the next presidential and parliamentary elections.