Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has found himself at a crossroads politically after Orange Democratic Movement Ward Reps in Nairobi endorsed Makadara Member of Parliament George Aladwa as their candidate for the 2027 governor election. Aladwa, who is also ODM Party Leader in Nairobi, held a closed-door meeting with both ODM and UDA Ward Reps at City Hall, where he revealed his intentions. During the meeting, Aladwa promised the Ward Reps a close working relationship and prioritisation of projects at Ward levels if he is elected Nairobi governor in 2027.
Some MCAs who spoke during the meeting cited that their relationship with Governor Sakaja has been icy and sometimes unavailable, a trait that they said has prompted calls for impeachment against the county boss. Former Nairobi Mayor Godfrey Majiwa, who is the current Babadogo MCA, said that as ODM, they have a candidate who they are supporting, and Aladwa has approached them and told them he can lead the people of Nairobi. Another Member, Emmy Khatemeshi Isalambo, affirmed that their party is well-prepared in the city and has agreed to field Aladwa in 2027 because he has all what it takes to lead.
The development comes about a month after Governor Sakaja, during a radio interview, claimed that he was under pressure from officials and supporters of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to join the party. Sakaja said ODM officials, youths, women leaders and Members of Parliament have approached him in recent months, signalling growing interest in having him join ODM ahead of the 2027 General Election. However, Sakaja stopped short of confirming that he would leave UDA, saying there was no official date for such a move.
The governor suggested that his ultimate political decision would be influenced by the views of Nairobi residents and his supporters, rather than being based solely on party considerations. The endorsement of Aladwa now complicates Sakaja’s 2027 mathematics since the majority of UDA Ward Reps in the Assembly were not on good terms with him. This could also ruin the broad-based arrangement between UDA and ODM in Nairobi unless one of them is forced to step down.
Ngei Ward MCA Redson Onyango said that while there is a broad-based arrangement between UDA and ODM IN Nairobi, their party must field a candidate. Onyango added that there were rumours that Sakaja would join ODM but that was not confirmed, meaning he remains in UDA. In 2025, Sakaja, the ODM party saved governor Sakaja from impeachment following an intervention by former ODM leader Raila Odinga as President Ruto convinced the members from UDA to drop the bid.
Sakaja's fate was in the hands of the ODM Ward Reps since they are the majority in the Nairobi County Assembly. It's for this reason that Sakaja was forced to reach out to the fallen ODM leader to save him from facing impeachment. However, after the meeting, several Nairobi MCAs claimed they were threatened to drop the impeachment attempt against Governor Johnson Sakaja. ODM members said the party threatened to deny them tickets in the 2027 elections if they pushed on with the motion.
Some allies close to Governor Sakaja have dismissed Aladwa, claiming that he could be raising his profile for bargaining power next year. The Nairobi governor's camp has yet to respond to the endorsement of Aladwa by ODM Ward Reps. The development is likely to increase tension in the Nairobi county assembly and may affect the relationship between UDA and ODM in the city.
Key points
- ODM Ward Reps in Nairobi have endorsed Makadara MP George Aladwa as their candidate for the 2027 governor election.
- Governor Sakaja has been under pressure from ODM officials and supporters to join the party ahead of the 2027 General Election.
- The endorsement of Aladwa complicates Sakaja’s 2027 mathematics and may affect the broad-based arrangement between UDA and ODM in Nairobi.
