Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has left the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and joined the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), according to The Star, Kenya. He was formally received into the opposition party on Monday, November 2, at ODM's headquarters, Chungwa House, in Nairobi, by senior party officials led by Deputy Party Leader Simba Arati.
The switch follows weeks of speculation about where the governor would land politically, during which he appeared more and more often alongside ODM figures. The Star, Kenya reports that his final public hint came on Saturday, October 31, when he attended an ODM rally at Jacaranda Grounds and invited Nairobi residents to point him toward his next political step.
Why it matters
Sakaja's move redraws the contest for Nairobi's top county seat ahead of the 2027 General Election. A sitting governor joining an opposition party puts a prominent incumbent into ODM's internal competition, where several other politicians have already declared or been linked to the governor's race. The decision also raises a question ODM members have debated before: whether someone arriving from another party should be given the nomination or made to compete for it through party processes.
A nomination fight takes shape
The most closely watched potential clash is with Embakasi East MP Paul Ongili, widely known as Babu Owino, who has said he wants the governor's seat and has built a following through youth mobilisation and grassroots networks, according to The Star, Kenya.
Makadara MP George Aladwa has also positioned himself for the ODM ticket, adding another layer to the nomination question. The Star, Kenya reports that party members have previously questioned whether newcomers should be handed nominations outright or sent through competitive party processes.
Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai made that argument publicly, asking whether ODM was willing to make room for Sakaja while also nurturing leaders who rose inside its own structures. People Daily separately reports that Alai wants Sakaja interviewed before he is admitted to the party.
The wider Nairobi field
Outside ODM, the race already has declared and mentioned candidates. Kasarani MP Ronald Karauri has announced his interest and has spoken about improving service delivery and infrastructure, The Star, Kenya reports. Embakasi North MP James Gakuya is associated with the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) and has been linked to the contest.
Former Nairobi county chief officer Geoffrey Mosiria has declared he will run for governor, and Bishop Margaret Wanjiru is among the other names being mentioned as the field takes shape.
Sakaja's political record
Sakaja was elected governor in 2022 after serving as Nairobi senator from 2017 to 2022. Before that, he was a nominated member of the National Assembly from 2013 to 2017 and chaired parliamentary committees, including the Labour and Social Welfare Committee.
His earlier roles include national chairman of The National Alliance and leader of the Kenya Young Parliamentarians Association. He has also represented 13 African cities on the C40 steering committee, which works on local climate action and sustainable urban development.
In explaining his decision, Sakaja pointed to the influence of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, ODM's founding leader, according to The Star, Kenya.
What to watch
Attention now turns to ODM's nomination process and whether Sakaja's new party affiliation translates into backing from ODM members and Nairobi voters. The campaign itself is expected to turn on service delivery, infrastructure, transport, waste management and the pressures of a growing city.
