The fight for the Nairobi Governor’s seat is intensifying after a group of ODM officials and delegates endorsed Makadara MP George Aladwa for capital city’s top job.
Aladwa is ODM's Nairobi chairman and served as the last mayor of Nairobi City Council from 2011 to 2013.
The backing follows Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi — previously considered the party's main challenger to incumbent Governor Johnson Sakaja of UDA — relocating to Bungoma county to run for governor.
During a gathering on Wednesday, the group threw its support behind Aladwa, creating a new challenge for party leader Raila Odinga. The group is comprised of newly elected ODM grassroots officials and a number of delegates in Nairobi.
They included Nairobi ODM vice-chairman Ochieng Jera, Women's Branch chairperson Catherine Akoth and Youth leader Stanzo Omungala.
The delegates described Aladwa as a loyal servant who has consistently supported the party and its leader. They commended the two-term MP for his experience and deep knowledge of City Hall, recalling his prior service as mayor in the now-defunct city council.
"He remains the most loyal and experienced leader in ODM. That is why we are urging the party, and our leader Raila Odinga, to consider Aladwa for the Nairobi governor seat,” Paul Oyimba, Kamukunji ODM chairman, said.
Aladwa is known for his grassroots mobilisation skills and passionate political speeches. He is credited with helping to sustain Luhya community support for Raila in Nairobi.
Aladwa originates from the Tiriki sub-tribe of the Luhya community in Vihiga county, one of the largest Luhya subtribes.
Nearly one million Luhyas live in Nairobi, making them the second-largest voting bloc after the Kikuyu.
Initially, Aladwa had expressed interest in running for Vihiga governor, but sources suggest Raila persuaded him to stay in Nairobi, emphasising Aladwa’s strategic significance to ODM politics in the capital city.
Wanyonyi, who is aiming the Bungoma governorship, had been ODM’s preferred candidate to face Sakaja.
In 2022, Wanyonyi reluctantly withdrew from the Nairobi Governor race after Raila and then-President Uhuru Kenyatta agreed that Jubilee’s Polycarp Igathe would be their joint candidate. He lost.
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino is considered a strong ODM contender for governor.
Insiders say, however, it will be difficult for him to secure the ODM ticket due to his vocal opposition to the developing political arrangements between President William Ruto and Raila and the broad-based government.
Babu has repeatedly criticised Ruto’s administration over alleged human rights abuses, including abductions, torture and police brutality.
Some sources suggest he may leave the party and run as an independent candidate. Aladwa, however, has openly supported the Ruto-Raila rapprochement.
During the delegates’ meeting on Wednesday last week, Owino urged both leaders to announce their pact for 2027 as early as possible to the enable grassroots mobilisation to commence.
The ODM leaders and delegates reaffirmed their support for the broad-based arrangement between Ruto and Raila.
“As the ODM leadership in Nairobi, we fully support the broad-based government under Ruto, in line with the memorandum of understanding between him and Raila,” they said in a joint statement read by ODM vice chairman Jera.
They said they are ready to hit the campaign trail but are still awaiting direction from their two political heavyweights.“What Raila says regarding who we should support for President, we shall follow. He is our party leader, and whoever he endorses, we will support,” Aladwa said.
Governor Sakaja, elected on a UDA ticket, now faces a difficult task to keep his seat.
Although he has maintained close relations with both Ruto and Raila — possibly to secure bipartisan backing — insiders say Raila is determined that an ODM candidate will run for Nairobi Governor.
It remains uncertain whether Sakaja might switch from UDA to ODM to strengthen support from Raila and the opposition. ODM produced the first Nairobi Governor, Evans Kidero, in 2013.
