Matiang’i, Nyoro close ranks as they fight off questions on ‘loyalty’ to United Opposition

With under 10 months to the 2027 elections, the United Opposition continues to grapple with suspicion of growing infiltration within its ranks by the government as time ticks on on who its presidential flagbearer will be.

The growing mistrust has seen two members of the United Opposition -- Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro and former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i – come out strongly to dismiss critics who questioned their loyalty to the United Opposition’s cause. The two have in recent weeks appeared to be working closely together, stirring speculation on their game plan.

The entry of Mr Nyoro into the opposition ranks has been met with suspicion, especially by the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), which continues to link him to the current regime.

Dropping the bombshell on Sunday, DCP Secretary-General designate John Methu did not mince his words in questioning Mr Nyoro’s intentions and claiming the Kiharu MP’s political moves will only help President William Ruto.

The Nyandarua Senator claimed the government approached him with an offer to form a political party immediately after DCP won the Ol Kalou by-elections in July to destabilise the opposition and jolt DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua's quest to be the Mt Kenya kingpin.

However, he said he rejected the overtures that would have made him a principal within the United Opposition.

"Immediately after the Ol Kalou by-elections win, a person from the government approached me with a message. They offered to get me a party, a vehicle to participate in the United Opposition as a principal, to be at the same level as Rigathi Gachagua," said Mr Methu.

He added: "Money was dangled as an incentive to the deal. They told me they will get me, aspirants, to run on the party, give me money, get me material donations and then we will be fighting your party to make you look like you are in the opposition and we are not working together. If it works, we can converge at the tail end, and you can become William Ruto's running mate."

The first-term lawmaker further claimed that a similar offer was made to Murang'a Governor Irungu Kang'ata, who also rejected the overtures.

"There were many offers being made to us. If they are speaking to me, they can speak to others too. Governor Kang'ata told me, the same people had approached him to form his own party," said the senator.

The 35-year-old said he reached out to Mr Gachagua about the offer and then to Mr Nyoro, who he pointed out warned him against falling into President Ruto's trap of wanting to split Mt Kenya votes.

"He told me Ruto fears a united mountain and he doesn't want us to be in one party. Even though he will reach out to all of us, we must refrain from forming our own political parties," said the MP.

"If we form our parties, we are splitting our votes, and Ruto doesn't want 100 MPs from one party because he will not have his way in the unlikely event he wins."  

Mr Methu went on to claim that the two-term Kiharu legislator promised to join DCP when the right time comes.

"I was even ready to cede my position to let him become the second in command after Gachagua. But when I heard he was forming his party, I couldn't believe my ears because that's not the discussion we had," said Mr Methu.

Mr Nyoro unveiled the People's Party of Kenya in August, announcing his entry into national political reckoning after months of keeping the country guessing.

Declaring that he had broken ranks with President Ruto's United Democratic Alliance, Mr Nyoro, a former close ally of the President and one of the leading political figures in the Kenya Kwanza administration’s early years, has been hobnobbing with the United Opposition.

The former National Assembly's Budget Committee chairperson has also been traversing the country to popularise his party ahead of the 2027 elections.

But Senator Methu maintains there is more than meets the eye in the activities of his political friend.

Reached for comment, Mr Nyoro told the Nation the last time he had any conversation with Mr Methu was before the Ol Kalou by-election when the Kiharu MP gave the Senator some money for the campaign.

"We have never met to speak about such a thing. It's just nonsense and hogwash. It's juvenile to say the least," said Mr Nyoro.

The lawmaker pointed accusing fingers at former DP Gachagua, claiming he is behind the smear campaign against him.

"Many leaders have come to me with messages from Gachagua in the US instructing them on what to say about me. Social media people have been instructed on what to say, and even people are coached on what to say during interviews," said the MP.

He added: "I would be surprised if they say anything good about me. Let them keep talking and yapping. We will meet in the field."

Mr Gachagua has also on several occasions in the past questioned the loyalty of some opposition figures, accusing them of being moles.

For instance, in May this year, Mr Gachagua warned his United Opposition allies about moles within their political formations, claiming President Ruto has planted moles in their parties.

“I want to warn my fellow principals to be very careful because Kasongo (referring to President Ruto by a nickname) has planted moles within your parties," said Mr Gachagua.

The former Mathira MP gave an example of a leader he did not name within one of the United Opposition political parties who went to a radio station to sow seeds of discord within the opposition ranks.

Dr Matiang’i has previously told off critics who questioned his loyalty.

The former Interior ministry boss dismissed the accusations as an attempt to divert attention from the issues under discussion.

He questioned the tendency to interpret political engagement across the divide as evidence of secret dealings, arguing that such claims amount to name-calling.

“When people can’t argue on anything, they resort to name-calling,” said Dr Matiang’i in August this year.

This is after he was accused of allegedly working to undermine efforts to unite parties within the opposition, with his political activities alleged to be "an attempt to infiltrate or weaken the opposition from within".

Senator Methu, however, expressed confidence in Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, saying he can always trust the former vice president as he has demonstrated his loyalty to Mr Gachagua before.

He also went ahead to express the same trust to Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, saying The Equitable Party leader has been consistent in wanting to send President Ruto home, adding that "he looks like he cannot be compromised by Ruto".

Nonetheless, the same level of trust was missing when it came to Dr Matiang’i. The former Interior CS was recently installed as Jubilee Party leader, succeeding retired President Uhuru Kenyatta.

"I initially thought I knew him (Matiang'i) very well, but these days, I don't think I know him very well because if I say Ndindi Nyoro is a mole and his best friend is Matiang'i, so what do I say about him?" said the senator.

But this is not the first time Senator Methu has been scathing in his assessment of MP Nyoro's political move.

Immediately after the unveiling of PPK, Mr Methu labelled the party a "wheelbarrow" created to cut the community to size in the same way the late President Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi did in the 1992 elections.

In the elections, the Democratic Party of Mwai Kibaki and Ford Asili of Kenneth Matiba split Mt Kenya's votes, handing President Moi the presidency on a silver platter.

The lawmaker claimed President Ruto is working hard to fragment Mt Kenya votes as well as split the opposition and therefore, he will not be surprised if anybody from the opposition is "bought".

He said that it will not be the first time such betrayals happen, drawing parallels to 2002, when the country had made a decision to bring to an end the Kanu regime; some opposition leaders still betrayed the course.

"Remember Simon Nyachae didn't go with other people; he decided to go his way, but the people didn't follow him. This is the same situation that will be in the 2027 elections," he said, adding that similar moves ahead of next year’s elections will not deter the opposition.

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