Published on February 10, 2025 by Kariuki Mwangi
Last Updated on 1 year by Kariuki Mwangi
Former prime minister, the ODM party leader Raila Odinga has today Monday February 10, 2025 backed the re-election of Nairobi governor Johnson Sakaja in the next General Election set for 2027.
Addressing the congregation at Bomas of Kenya, during a special prayer meeting ahead of the African Union Commission (AUC) election, in which Odinga is vying for chairmanship, slated for Saturday 15th February in Addis Ababa, the former premier endorsed Governor Sakaja for the Nairobi City County Governorship re-election 2027.
Raila said he wishes Nairobi to remain stable even as he goes to the African Union Commission (AUC). The veteran politician publicly declared that he wishes Sakaja to remain at the helm of Nairobi county.
Odinga emphasized the need for continuity in Nairobi City County leadership, saying; “I want Nairobi to remain united and strong. My son here (Sakaja) will take charge,” Odinga said
The endorsement from Odinga also was a clear indicator of the governor’s track record and his commitment to making Nairobi a benchmarking county for other counties and cities.
And when he rose to speak, Sakaja gave the clearest hint that he could switch parties ahead of the 2027 General Election.
“Dalili ya mvua ni mawingu na mwenye macho haambiwi tazama,’’ Governor Sakaja said.
Noting that Governor Sakaja fully supported Raila Odinga’s for the AUC chairmanship, he said he would organise a meeting with ODM women leaders in Nairobi to show his political direction ahead of 2027.
During the last general elections in 2022, Raila Odinga carried the day in Nairobi bagging 760,506 votes out of the 1,339,367 total votes cast in Nairobi.
With an endorsement from Odinga, Sakaja is well positioned to inherit Odinga’s vote rich constituency as Odinga has historically controlled the voting block of the predominant Luo, Luhya, Kisii, Somali, Asians, Maasai and other small communities in the Nairobi voting pattern which could work in favor of Sakaja, with a slight exception of a few of Odinga’s electorate who might lean towards Wiper led by former vice president Kalonzo Musyoka and UDA led by Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi.
This, coupled with Sakaja’s youth votes and the Nairobi parents electorate who have felt the impact of programs like Dishi Na County will give Sakaja a headstart in the next elections.
ODM Nairobi branch chairman, Makadara Member of Parliament George Aladwa set the stage for Nairobi’s 2027 politics after he urged Sakaja to dump President William Ruto’s UDA party and join the Orange Party.
“We are very happy that Governor Sakaja has fully supported Raila in the AUC journey and I ask you, Sakaja, our governor of Nairobi, to switch from UDA to ODM, and then we move together. In our ODM party, we have no jealousy,” Aladwa said.
Sakaja accompanied Raila to Addis Ababa last year as he launched his AUC manifesto and has been a staunch supporter of Odinga’s African quest. Elected on a UDA ticket, Sakaja has managed to galvanize support of the majority Azimio La Umoja MCAs. The Nairobi County Assembly and is poised to have an easy time in the campaigns as majority of the ODM MCAs are already aligned to him.
Sakaja is also poised to enjoy the support of Nairobi Members of Parliament largely from ODM with whom the governor has had a cordial relationship.
