President William Ruto unveils Karondo as the UDA candidate for the Kiharu parliamentary seat in a move that’s got people talking about shifting alliances in Murang’a County. Kiharu MP aspirant 2027 in UDA meets Ruto. Charles Kamau Karondo, who used to work closely with the current MP Ndindi Nyoro, stepped into the spotlight on January 26, backed by the ruling party after Nyoro started speaking out against government plans to borrow more money and sell off parts of Safaricom.
This switch-up feels like a big shake in local politics, with Karondo now gearing up to challenge his old boss in the next elections. Karondo isn’t new to the game.
He served as Nyoro’s personal assistant from 2017 right up to 2022, handling day-to-day stuff in the constituency office and helping with community projects. Back then, Nyoro was rising fast as a young leader in the United Democratic Alliance, and Karondo was right by his side, learning the ropes. But something went wrong, and Karondo got the boot.
The exact details on why he was let go stay murky – no official statement from either side. Some whispers point to growing tensions as Ruto’s administration took shape after the 2022 polls. Nyoro, once a strong Ruto supporter, began questioning key policies, while Karondo seemed to stay in the president’s good books.
One thing’s sure: after leaving Nyoro’s team, Karondo landed solid gigs in government, like heading the Athi Water Works Development Agency before switching to chair the Communications Authority of Kenya in August 2025.
Nyoro’s been making waves lately. The Kiharu MP has called out what he sees as too much debt piling up on Kenyans, arguing it could hurt the economy long-term. He also raised red flags about the idea of selling Safaricom shares to foreign investors, saying it might weaken local control over a company that’s key to jobs and tech in the country.
These comments haven’t sat well with party bigwigs, and Nyoro’s paid a price. Back in March 2025, he lost his spot as chair of the powerful Budget and Appropriations Committee in parliament.
Leaders accused him of tweaking budgets to favour his area and allies, though Nyoro denied knowing why he got the axe. By July, he was shifted to a less flashy role in the Diaspora Affairs Committee, another sign things were cooling between him and Ruto’s inner circle.
Ruto’s pick of Karondo for the UDA ticket looks like a direct play to keep Kiharu in the fold. The president made the announcement at a party meeting in Nairobi, praising Karondo as a fresh face with grassroots know-how. “He’s got the drive to deliver for the people,” Ruto said, without naming Nyoro outright. But everyone knows the score – this sets up a showdown in 2027.
Karondo, a former student leader at Mount Kenya University, has built a rep for being sharp and connected. His time at CA involved overseeing telecom rules and pushing for better internet access in rural spots, wins that could appeal to voters tired of the same old faces.
Voters in Kiharu have mixed feelings. Some back Nyoro for standing up to what they call wasteful spending, like when he slammed the government’s borrowing habits as “a lot of PR without real fixes”.
Others think Karondo brings stability, especially since he’s tied to Ruto’s vision for jobs and growth. Social media’s full of debates – one post joked Karondo’s the “loyal son” ready to take over, while another warned it could split votes in Murang’a. Nyoro hasn’t responded directly yet, but he’s hinted at running independently if UDA shuts him out.
As elections inch closer, Kiharu could turn into a battleground testing Ruto’s hold on Central Kenya. Nyoro’s got the local pull, but Karondo’s got the party machine. Whoever wins, it’ll say a lot about where loyalties lie.
Karondo’s already hitting the ground, meeting community groups and promising better roads and schools. Nyoro keeps focusing on national issues, like cutting debt to free up cash for health and farming. The race is on, and with UDA’s stamp, Karondo starts with an edge. But in Murang’a, votes aren’t handed out easily – they’ve got to be earned. Keep an eye here; things are heating up.
