Former Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has come out strongly in defence of Ndindi Nyoro following criticism over his absence during the National Assembly vote on the Finance Bill, claiming the backlash is part of a wider scheme to eliminate emerging political leaders in the Mt Kenya region.

In a message addressed to Nyoro on his X handle on Sunday, June 21, 2026, Kuria said the Kiharu MP was being unfairly attacked by political opponents angered by his position on the controversial bill. He warned that former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was determined to sideline all other influential political figures in the region.

“Now the self-righteous cult has come with their daggers drawn for you. They say you let them down on the finance bill. They now want to extinguish your political career,” Kuria stated.

The former Cabinet Secretary said he had repeatedly cautioned Nyoro that Gachagua would not rest until he had neutralised all potential political competitors in Mt Kenya, adding that the ongoing criticism should not distract the MP from his long-term political ambitions.

Kuria argued that both he and Nyoro would ultimately survive the current political storm but warned that ordinary residents of the Mt Kenya region risked losing out if promising leaders were prematurely pushed out of the political arena.

Drawing comparisons with other regions, Kuria pointed to what he described as leadership gaps that emerged after the exit of prominent political figures, saying Mt Kenya should avoid a similar fate by nurturing a diversity of leaders.

Despite the criticism facing Nyoro, Kuria expressed confidence in the MP’s political future, describing him as a leader with many years ahead of him. He urged him to remain focused and avoid being swayed by short-term political pressures.

“My brother, you have, God willing, many years of leadership ahead of you. Keep your focus,” Kuria said.

Kuria further framed Nyoro as a potential future national leader, invoking the political legacies of Kenneth Matiba and Mwai Kibaki. He suggested that Nyoro could one day complete the political journey envisioned by Matiba and later realised by Kibaki.

Massive Finance Bill vote skip

The remarks come amid growing political tensions in Mt Kenya following the Finance Bill vote, which has sparked debate over the conduct of elected leaders and intensified succession politics ahead of the 2027 general election.

On Thursday, June 18, 2026, the National Assembly passed the Finance Bill 2026, paving the way for the proposed law to be sent to President William Ruto for assent.

Only 162 members of the National Assembly turned up for the crucial vote among the 349 members. Of the 162 who appeared, 122 voted to approve the bill, and 40 were against it. The other 187 MPs weren’t involved.

The figures are disturbing. The number of MPs boycotting the vote was greater than the number present. As it were, only 122 members of the National Assembly (about a third) voted on a bill which will impact millions of Kenyans.

Ndindi Nyoro defended his absence, revealing that he had an international engagement.