Kiharu constituency Member of Parliament (MP) Ndindi Nyoro has come out strongly to defend retired President Uhuru Kenyatta, criticising the continued political attacks directed at him by a section of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leaders and politicians allied to President William Ruto.

Speaking on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, during an interview with one of the local TV stations, Nyoro reflected on his role during the 2022 election campaigns, admitting that the tone and tactics used at the time, particularly the constant verbal assaults on Uhuru, were excessive and, in hindsight, misguided.

He argues that since the Kenya Kwanza team won the election, leaders allied to President Ruto have no business dragging the name of a retired president.

“I was part of the last campaign, where there was an obsession with every rally attacking other leaders and especially the former President Uhuru Kenyatta. Now, the team we were campaigning for won; what business do we have in every rally to be dragging a retired president into our political abusiveness?” Nyoro questioned.

Nyoro acknowledges personal responsibility

The lawmaker, who has since fallen out with Ruto in a move that saw him kicked out as the chair of the budget committee in the National Assembly despite being a key mobiliser for the Kenya Kwanza campaign, acknowledged personal responsibility for the rhetoric that dominated the political environment during the fallout between Uhuru and then-Deputy President Ruto but noted that maturity and hindsight had reshaped his perspective.

“We are Kenyans. I was part of that team; I was young. Probably, I could do things differently now. Uhuru Kenyatta was the president last term, and because I don’t want to run away from responsibility, we were supporting the arm of the then deputy president William Ruto, who is the current president, and I don’t think we are proud of the kind of altercations that were there between the president and the deputy president then,” he said.

Uhuru fires back

Uhuru has issued a rare but stinging response to a section of the ODM party leaders who have accused him of meddling in the party’s internal affairs.

Speaking on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, during the burial ceremony of the late former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongi in Lumakanda, Kakamega County, Uhuru told those attacking him to stop scapegoating others for their political failures and instead face the electorate with clear ideas and firm leadership.

The fourth president dismissed claims that he is influencing ODM politics, saying such accusations are often used by politicians who have failed to gain acceptance where they seek relevance.

“Mtu akishindwa njia ya kujipendekeza kule anataka kujipendekeza, lazima atafute mtu aseme kuwa watu wanakataa kukusikiza kwa sababu ya yule na huyu,” Uhuru said.