Ndindi Nyoro responds to succession politics in Mt. Kenya

Kiharu Member of Parliament Ndindi Nyoro has come out to speak on the succession politics in Mt. Kenya, which have hit the headlines in recent days.

Nyoro pledged his allegiance to the William Ruto administration with Rigathi Gachagua as the deputy president.

“I want to make it very clear, I am an MP of Kiharu and I want to congratulate our president for the work he is doing. We as people from the Mt. Kenya region and leaders of Kenya Kwanza, are solidly behind his government including the deputy president. And want that unity to continue in government.”

Succession politics in the Mt. Kenya region have been in the news the recent days, with some leaders in the area siding with Nyoro to be Ruto’s running mate in 2027 while others stood with Gachagua.

Gachagua supporters argued that he is the deputy president and holds a vital office that makes him the leader of Mt. Kenya.

The division in the vote-rich region has seen the president and his deputy chime in on the politicking.

Ruto asked upcoming politicians to slow down even as top leaders mentor them, while Gachagua urged politicians in the area to focus on development plans, saying it was too early to start campaigning.

The strained relationship between the executive and judiciary

On the ongoing tussle between the judiciary and the executive, Nyoro appealed to the three arms of government to make decisions with the interest of the public in mind.

“The government respects all arms of government but public interest should come first in all decisions we make as leaders.”

In early January, Ruto publicly claimed that corrupt officials in the judiciary were undermining the government’s development projects in the country. This saw Chief Justice Martha Koome call for a meeting with the president to address his concerns.

The Finance Act of 2023, housing levy, and social health insurance fund (SHIF) are among proposed legislations have faced legality obstacles, with petitions filed against them.

The Court of Appeal on January 19  allowed the Ministry of Health to continue with SHIF implementation but on January 26 upheld a High Court ruling that termed the housing levy unconstitutional.

Following the verdict on the housing levy, Ruto maintained that the affordable housing project would continue, adding that the government would appeal the ruling.