Ndindi Nyoro questions Ruto’s Azerbaijan trip amid ongoing fuel crisis
By Mabonga Makhanu, May 19, 2026Kiharu Ndindi Nyoro has questioned President William Ruto’s decision to travel to Azerbaijan at a time when the country is facing what he described as a national crisis.
Speaking during an interview with a local TV station on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, the outspoken legislator said that if he were in the position of the head of state, he would not have travelled outside the country under the current circumstances.
Nyoro argued that the government was taking many things for granted despite the challenges Kenyans are currently facing. According to him, the timing of the Azerbaijan trip was wrong, and he insisted that the country has more pressing issues that require urgent attention from the leadership.
“Let me; these are my opinions, one. If I were in the shoes of the head of state, and I’m trying to answer the question on specifics, I would not have travelled to Azerbaijan. I mean, sometimes when you are in power, you may take a lot for granted, and I think the government is taking a lot for granted. It is wrong timing for that, for that to be Azerbaijan. We have much more pressing issues in the country.”
The former budget committee chairman further stated that the government should have addressed the nation earlier regarding the ongoing crisis and openly explained the situation to Kenyans instead of waiting for tensions to escalate.
He noted that government leaders have access to critical information and are therefore expected to anticipate the impact of policies and public reactions before implementing decisions.
Nyoro slams government officials
Nyoro also took issue with government officials making multiple media appearances while failing to provide practical solutions to the concerns being raised by Kenyans over the current hike in fuel prices. He argued that once leaders assume office, they lose the privilege of merely making promises and are instead expected to deliver results.
Lessons from finance bill 2024
The Kiharu MP expressed disappointment that, despite the events surrounding the 2024 Finance Bill protests, the government appeared not to have learned any lessons from the public backlash witnessed at the time.
This comes amid ongoing protests being witnessed in several parts of the country, with Kenyans expressing their discontent with the pump prices.