The Kiharu paradox: What Ndindi Nyoro is doing right, and why it’s making MPs uncomfortable

After his ignominious expulsion from the National Assembly’s Budget and Appropriations Committee, Kiharu Member of Parliament Ndindi Nyoro retreated quietly, eschewing an all-out confrontation with his tormentors and renewing his commitment to his constituents with renergized vigour and urgent gusto.

As the then Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua impeachment galvanised the nation, the clear-headed Nyoro sought to avoid the maddening frenzy, measuring his public statements while at the same time remaining studiously focused on the mandate handed to him by his esteemed Kiharu voters.

Obsessively wrapped up in his legislative duties, Nyoro appeared to be a man on a firm mission; a man not easily distracted by political theatre, and a man who, even after falling out of the graces of the big boys at State House, still maintained a righteousness to the people who put him in office.

On March 19, 2025, weeks after his booting from the prestigious Parliamentary body, Nyoro unveiled newly-constructed administrative offices in the Mjini area of his constituency, a function that witnessed an unusual boycott from local government officials including the County Commissioner due to political tensions. This left the new offices unoccupied as the national officials stayed away for days on end.

The project, funded by National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF), was intended to provide better working conditions for administrators and bring services closer to the people and was to house various government offices, including those of the Assistant County Commissioner (ACC), Chiefs, Assistant Chiefs, as well as the Office of Social Services & Lands Board, under one roof.

Even before his removal from the Budget and Appropriations Committee, Nyoro had gotten into the crosshairs of his Parliamentary mates, many jealously accusing him of selfishly directing national funds to his constituency in order to improve his political image and secure himself a favourable ranking amongst colleagues.

Over the years, MPs watched as Ndindi Nyoro upgraded schools, built classrooms, constructed roads, carpeted school pathways with cabro, rehabilitated infrastructure, boosted education and remodelled small businesses, lifting thousands out of penury and uplifting the face of Kiharu. 

Speaking on Citizen TV’s JKL interview on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, Suna East MP Junet Mohamed repeated his old assertions, again accusing Nyoro of favouring his constituency while chairing the budget committee, a claim that appeared to fuel the long-running equity arguments nationally.

“When he was the chairman, he was giving his county and his constituency more money than any other part,” Junet said during the interview.

This came after Nakuru Town East MP David Gikaria claimed Nyoro's school fees initiative creates unrealistic pressure on other MPs.

He alleged that Nyoro exploited his Budget Committee chairmanship to secure extra funding, demanding scrutiny. 

Of course, these are grossly exaggerated falsehoods. But the renergized onslaught against Nyoro isn't new.

Back in March 2025, National Assembly Deputy Majority Leader Owen Baya asked the Treasury to release geographical data on development projects per county and constituency.

While addressing the House, the Kilifi North MP demanded that the Treasury release the data to allow lawmakers to assess whether some constituencies have received disproportionately higher allocations.

“The Ministry of Treasury should now submit geographical information of development projects per county and constituency by 30th April 2025,” Baya asserted.

He added: “This is fundamental. This is very important. Because we have had skewed development in this country, where other regions have had more resources and other regions have had fewer resources, areas... that have been purposely underdeveloped and underserved because of political reasons or otherwise.”

Backing his Kilifi North colleague, Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah also called for an audit of the members of the Budget Committee, an obvious dig at Ndindi Nyoro.

He said: "This House will not sit and allow members who sit in the Budget and Appropriations Committee to use the position they hold in that committee to appropriate money to only their constituency at the expense of Kenyans."

Early January, Ndindi Nyoro announced a major reduction in day secondary school fees from Ksh1,000 to just Ksh500 per term for all learners from Grade 10 to Form Four under the Kiharu Masomo Bora Programme 2026. 

The move is expected to benefit more than 12,000 students across 65-day secondary schools in the constituency, making secondary education more affordable and accessible to thousands of families.

As usual, many MPs criticised the move, linking Kiharu's development to unfair resource allocation.

Obviously challenged, Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot defended MPs unable to replicate the Ksh.500 fee cap, explaining that constituencies face varying school requirements and regional funding disparities that prevent uniform implementation nationwide.

Inspired by the Nyoro model, which has left Kenyans sufficiently impressed and even shocked at just how an MP can really achieve, former DP Gachagua provoked a conversation around underdevelopment especially in Northern Kenya, blaming the chronic underdevelopment in the region on poor leadership and lack of accountability, not the people.

Repeatedly, and obviously inspired by Nyoro's tangible success in Kiharu, Gachagua has been highlighting the disparity between the region’s vast resources and the persistent poverty its residents face.

Nyoro's near-magical transformation of Kiharu has ignited a fierce national conversation over misuse of funds in constituencies, with Kenyans openly questioning their MPs and demanding explanations on how CDF funds were being (mis)appropriated.

Lawyer and politician Willis Otieno has even turned his X account into a chronograph on poorly-managed and hopelessly underdeveloped constituencies especially from the Nyanza region.

So far, Otieno has highlighted woeful cases ranging from schools to roads in Ugunja, Suba North, Bondo, Uwasi and Alego Usoga.

He wrote: "If a leader has time for State House pilgrimages and chant rehearsals, why doesn’t he have time to fix classrooms that threaten children’s lives? What exactly are we rewarding; loyalty to power or responsibility to pupils? At what point did chanting slogans become a substitute for roofs, desks, and safety? If public money exists for rallies, fuel, and helicopters, why is there none for cement and iron sheets?"

Available NG-CDF data from the Treasury Ministry shows Ndindi Nyoro’s Kiharu constituency received about Ksh.1.53 billion over twelve years, compared to his biggest critic Junet Mohamed’s Suna East, which received roughly Ksh.1.47 billion over the same period nationally.

The raw figures suggest an advantage, but a population-adjusted analysis flips the narrative, revealing that Suna East residents received an estimated Ksh.12,048 per person, on average, nationally.

By contrast, Kiharu’s per capita share stands at Ksh.7,840, meaning each Suna East resident effectively benefited by about Ksh.4,208 more over the period.

Recent disbursements show a similar trend, with Suna East allocated Ksh.166.59 million in the 2023/24 financial year, compared with Kiharu’s Ksh.151.96 million in 2022/23.

Despite the constant attacks from the political world, Nyoro still appears intent on the one thing that his people entrusted him most with - improving their livelihood, educating their children, protecting their businesses, safeguarding their future and heeding to their pleas.

And that, according to Nyoro, is all that truly matters. At least for now.