From arsonist to firefighter? Kenyans question Ndindi Nyoro's sudden about-turn on harsh tax policies

Nyoro, one of the loudest and most prominent defenders of the William Ruto crippling taxation policies, the linchpin of the June/July 2024 nationwide anti-government demonstrations, now appears to wear a different saintly cloak from the wicked robe he once wore as Ruto's most faithful loyalist.

The Kiharu MP, who once chaired the powerful National Assembly Budget and Appropriations Committee, a position from which he was ignominiously booted, has now found a new voice and calling - that of defending Kenyans from the unbearable weight of taxation, fuel increments and related issues.

Since his expulsion from the lucrative committee, Nyoro has waged a full-on war against the government he once so loyally served, calling out various Ruto policies in a cavalcade of never-ending press conferences, in an effort to align himself with 'Mwananchi' and expose the government's supposed ills.

But the people are not buying into the bluff.

On Wednesday, April 15, the Kiharu lawmaker proposed a raft of measures he said could lower fuel prices by at least Ksh.27 per litre, amid growing concern over the rising cost of petroleum products.

In a press statement, Nyoro accused the government of failing to provide a solution to the fuel crisis, terming the recent price increments as “unacceptable.”

The MP argued that Kenyans were currently paying more for fuel despite lower global oil prices compared to 2022.

He warned that failure by the government to clearly communicate the composition of fuel pricing could trigger hoarding within the supply chain.

“It has been let bare and apparent that the Government has never been keen or committed to providing a solution to the crisis that has been imminent since the end of February. The drastic increment in fuel prices is unacceptable; a more humane variation must be made by reducing the pump prices now,” he said.

However, Kenyans were quick to remind him of his past days of glory, where he pompously and heedlessly parrotted the government agenda, fiercely defending Ruto's crushing tax proposals and even taking ample time to outline the benefits of Value Added Tax (VAT) increments to 16% back in 2023.

This was now the same man, Kenyans wondered, who had suddenly become "clever", had seen the light and had now been baptised in the stark reality of tax excesses, suddenly speaking out for 'Mwananchi' and shooting down the very proposals he helped create, defend and entrench.

On July 21, 2023, Ndindi Nyoro was the star of the show as Azimio and Kenya Kwanza MPs locked horns in the House, with 184 MPs voting in favour of the increase in VAT to 16 per cent against 84 who opposed the amendment.

On that day, Nyoro brushed off attempts by the minority side to oppose the proposal to increase VAT on fuel, instead challenging them to offer other alternatives to raise revenue.

“In the 2023/24 budget, we have allocated Ksh.25 billion that is going to fuel the subsidy that was promised but was never paid. Also Ksh.250 billion has been allocated to roads.

“Those who may not agree with the amendment from the chair should give us other revenue measures. You cannot have your cake and eat it,” said Nyoro.

Kenyans have now found it hard to reconcile this same man with the current Nyoro, a suddenly enlightened, people-oriented champion, who is fighting for the survival of the average Kenyan pocket.

X user Phil Cruze wrote: "We should start coming down hard on Ndindi Nyoro to shut the up, coz he's one of the chief architects of this mess we're currently wallowing in. How can he suddenly become clever?"

In yet another lengthy broadside, X Ubuntu Bantu slammed the Kiharu MP, calling out his hypocrisy and outlining the clear motivation of Nyoto's sudden about-turn.

He wrote: "Ndindi Nyoro is not a whistleblower; he is just a disgruntled architect who got locked out of the building he helped design. Yes, his math on the G-to-G cartel 'kiosk' is 100% correct today. But let us not forget the ledger: when he was Budget Chair, he whipped the numbers for the 16% VAT and defended this regime's economic policies. 

"He is exposing the cartel now only because he is no longer eating at their table. You do not get to build an economic prison for the us, get fired as the warden, and then try to lead the prison break without apologising first. "

Reacting to the post, someone else said: "Can’t emphasize this enough! He contributed very happily to the debt crisis that burdens us today. Ndindi Nyoro only started complaining after ametolewa nyama kwa mdomo. Insincere, dishonest fellow! Trust him at your own risk! This man dug the hole we are now all in, and is now pretending to have solutions to where we can find a ladder to climb out."

Yet another Kenyan shared an observation on Nyoro's apparent insincerity, writing, "You are currently paying KSh 16 in VAT for every litre of fuel because Ndindi Nyoro and his committee forced it down our throats."

"Now, as the country holds its breath for a catastrophic EPRA price hike, he has the nerve to post a video begging for subsidies - the same subsidies he told us were 'destroying the economy' two years ago!"

Nyoro now joins a list of leaders - including former DP Gachagua - whose past actions, utterances and political alignments sharply differ from their present state of mind, with Kenyans asking them to keep their mouths shut and quit pretending to suddenly care about issues Kenyans have been talking about for years.

 "You cannot light a fire and then suddenly criticise the fire department for taking their time before putting it off!" someone advised.