Ruto: I am mentoring Ndindi Nyoro

By Wanderi Kamau

President William Ruto has described Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro as a promising young leader whom he is personally mentoring for future leadership.

Speaking during an interview with Kikuyu radio and TV stations on Monday night, Ruto dismissed claims that he had a hand in Nyoro’s removal as the chairperson of the National Assembly’s Budget and Appropriations Committee.

He clarified that such elections are the sole responsibility of Members of Parliament.

“Ndindi Nyoro is a very fine young man. I am mentoring him. However, the election of Parliamentary Committee chairmen is done by MPs,” said Ruto.

Parliamentary committee leadership

The president distanced himself from the recent shake-up in parliamentary committee leadership, saying he had no role in the changes that saw Nyoro lose the Budget Committee chairmanship.

“Parliamentary leadership is answerable to what happened during the committee changes. Not me,” he stated.

Read more: What next for Ndindi Nyoro?

Nyoro, a key ally of Ruto, was widely expected to take over the powerful Budget and Appropriations Committee, but his bid was unsuccessful, fueling speculation of a possible fallout between him and other senior leaders in the ruling coalition.

Justin Muturi’s dismissal

During the interview, Ruto also addressed the dismissal of former Attorney General Justin Muturi, revealing that he had reservations about appointing him to the position due to his lack of recent legal practice.

“Justin Muturi had told me not to appoint him as the Attorney General as he had not practiced for quite some time. However, I had faith in him, but he failed to deliver,” Ruto said.

He added that he gave Muturi a second chance by appointing him as a Cabinet Secretary, but things did not improve.

“It reached a time when he was snubbing Cabinet sittings. What could I have done?” he posed.

Political implications

Ruto’s remarks signal a growing shift in the political landscape, with Nyoro seen as a rising star in Mt Kenya politics.