Scramble for ODM ticket: Sakaja ditches UDA as MP Karauri set to join ahead of 2027 battle

By  Kevin Cheruiyot

Correspondent

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has officially joined the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party for his re-election bid.

Governor Sakaja, who was elected in 2022 on the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party of President William Ruto, said he is ready to campaign for Ruto’s second term while in ODM party. ODM and UDA are currently in the broad-based government arrangement, and are in the process of signing a pre-election coalition agreement.

While his reception meeting at Chung’wa House has divided opinion, the county boss reiterated that he was simply fulfilling the wishes of the late ODM founder Raila Odinga.

“I started this journey with Baba (Raila Odinga) when I became the governor. I have been fought for standing with Baba and bringing in ODM members to the cabinet. I did that before broad-based government arrangements. Baba is the one who told me to come to ODM,” Mr Sakaja said.

Mr Sakaja was received by the ODM Deputy Party Leader and Kisii Governor Simba Arati, ODM National Chairperson and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, Suna East MP and ODM party Director of Campaigns Junet Mohammed, and Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho.

Governor Sakaja said that he is joining the party with humility, ready to be guided by the top organs and hit the ground to popularise it.

“I bring with me the commitment that I have had to service, I bring my experience, I bring my energy, I bring my conviction for the next chapter of our politics must be measured not simply by the election we win but by the lives we transformed and I bring my belief that the young people must no longer be spectators in the decisions that shape their future. They must be participants, they must be leaders, and at the center of Kenya that we are building.”

The governor was reminded that ODM Nairobi Branch Chairperson and Makadara MP George Aladwa was also in the race for the ODM ticket in Nairobi.

“We have our chairman of the party in Nairobi, George Aladwa who has stood with the party for long here and he is also seeking for the governor seat here in ODM, and now we have Governor Sakaja,” Governor Wanga said, adding that everybody wishing to join the party is welcomed.

She also announced that the party nominations would be held in a transparent manner, without discrimination.

Governor Arati also revealed that Kasarani MP Ronald Karauri is among the people seeking to join the party to vie for the same seat.

“Our Nairobi Chairperson Aladwa is also seeking the Nairobi governor seat. He will fight with Governor Sakaja for the ticket here. If Karauri decides to come, we will welcome him the same way as we have done with Sakaja. The only assurance that we want to give to our people is that we will have a free, fair and transparent nominations,” Mr Arati said.

Due to Mr Aladwa's absence, Governor Sakaja announced that he would personally look for him in order to consolidate votes in Nairobi and ensure that the party dominates all seats.

Some MCAs from the Nairobi County Assembly, who were present at the event, had initially endorsed Mr Aladwa for the Nairobi leadership role.

Police officers were forced to use tear gas to disperse a group of party members attempting to disrupt the event; some could be heard shouting, 'No Aladwa, no ODM'.

The ODM party has attracted interest from the top leadership in recent months, after a group of ODM leaders, including Mr Aladwa, said they would support President Ruto's re-election on the condition that half of the government positions and control of Nairobi would be given to the ODM party.

The move from Mr Sakaja, a close ally to President Ruto, signifies that the leading party would agree to some of the ODM demands to forgo Nairobi governor position.

Both Mr Mohammed and Arati stated that they would defend Ruto’s reelection while on ODM, and that other elective positions are negotiable.

The late ODM party leader had publicly endorsed Governor Sakaja, including at an event in February 2025, referring him as his “son" and entrusted him with overseeing political affairs in the city.

During Mr Odinga’s bid for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson position, Governor Sakaja was seen accompanying him to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he gave him the support to the last minute.

Other than Governor Sakaja and Mr Aladwa, ODM is also facing the opposition from the aspirants in other camps who have declared interests in the seat, including Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, James Gakuya of Embakasi North, and Bishop Margaret Wanjiru.

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is on record declaring that his Democracy for the Citizens Party would dominate the City politics starting with the governor seat.

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