Sakaja Joins ODM, Faces Babu Owino in Battle for 2027 Nairobi Ticket

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja’s defection from the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) to the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has set off immediate friction within his new party over who will secure the ticket for the 2027 Nairobi gubernatorial race.

Sakaja was formally received into ODM on Monday, November 2, at the party’s headquarters, Chungwa House, in Nairobi, by senior party officials led by Deputy Party Leader Simba Arati. Speaking after switching sides, Sakaja attributed his move to advice from the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, ODM's founding leader.

His arrival, however, introduces intense internal competition for the ODM nomination, putting the party's selection process under sharp scrutiny. Embakasi East MP Paul Ongili, popularly known as Babu Owino, has already declared his interest in the governorship, relying on a prominent profile built around youth mobilisation and grassroots networks.

The nomination path is further crowded by Makadara MP George Aladwa, who has also positioned himself for the party ticket. The prospect of handing the ticket to a high-profile entrant has drawn pushback from party loyalists. Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai publicly questioned whether ODM should accommodate Sakaja, arguing that the party ought to nurture leaders who have grown within its existing structures.

The political shift follows weeks of speculation about the governor's future. Sakaja dropped a clear public hint on Saturday, October 31, during an ODM rally at Jacaranda Grounds, where he asked Nairobi residents to guide his next political move.

Beyond ODM, the field of prospective contenders for the city's top seat continues to broaden. Kasarani MP Ronald Karauri has declared his candidacy, focusing his campaign messaging on infrastructure and service delivery improvements. Embakasi North MP James Gakuya has been linked to the race through the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP).

Former Nairobi county chief officer Geoffrey Mosiria has also declared his intention to run for governor, while Bishop Margaret Wanjiru remains among the prominent names cited in the emerging contest.

Sakaja was nominated to the National Assembly from 2013 to 2017, where he chaired the Labour and Social Welfare Committee, before serving as Nairobi senator from 2017 to 2022 and winning the governorship in 2022 on a UDA ticket. Internationally, he has represented 13 African cities on the C40 steering committee, advocating for local climate action and urban sustainability.