Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has left the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and joined the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), according to The Star, Kenya. The governor was formally received into the opposition party on Monday, November 2, at its headquarters, Chungwa House, in Nairobi.
Senior ODM officials, including Deputy Party Leader Simba Arati, led the welcome, The Star, Kenya reports. The switch ends weeks of speculation about where Sakaja would stand in the run-up to the 2027 General Election.
Why it matters
Sakaja's move redraws the contest for Nairobi's top county seat. As the sitting governor, he brings name recognition and an incumbency record into a party that already has several members eyeing the same office.
It also puts ODM's internal nomination process under close scrutiny. The party must decide whether to hand its ticket to a recent arrival or require him to compete against leaders who have spent years building support inside its structures.
The decision will shape not only who carries ODM's flag in the capital but also how the party manages the ambitions of its long-standing members.
The path to the switch
Sakaja had been linked to ODM figures and events for some time before making the change official. The Star, Kenya reports that his most visible signal came on Saturday, October 31, when he attended an ODM rally at Jacaranda Grounds and asked Nairobi residents to point him toward his next political step.
After joining the party, Sakaja said the influence of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, ODM's founding leader, drove his decision, according to The Star, Kenya.
Sakaja's political history spans several parties and roles. He was a nominated member of the National Assembly from 2013 to 2017 and chaired parliamentary committees, including the one on Labour and Social Welfare. He served as Nairobi senator from 2017 to 2022 and was elected governor in 2022.
His earlier positions 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.
A crowded field for the ODM ticket
Sakaja's arrival sets up a possible nomination contest with Embakasi East MP Paul Ongili, widely known as Babu Owino. Owino has declared interest in the governor's seat and has built a following around youth mobilisation and grassroots networks, The Star, Kenya reports.
Makadara MP George Aladwa has also positioned himself for the ODM gubernatorial ticket, adding another layer to the party's internal calculations.
Some party members have questioned whether a newcomer should be given the nomination outright or sent through a competitive process. Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai publicly asked whether ODM was willing to accommodate Sakaja, arguing that the party should also support leaders who rose through its own ranks, according to The Star, Kenya.
The wider field outside ODM is also taking shape. Kasarani MP Ronald Karauri has declared his interest and has spoken about improving service delivery and infrastructure. Embakasi North MP James Gakuya is associated with the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) and has been linked to the race.
Former Nairobi county chief officer Geoffrey Mosiria has declared his interest in the governorship, and Bishop Margaret Wanjiru is among the other names being mentioned in the emerging contest, The Star, Kenya reports.
Beyond party politics, the Nairobi race is expected to turn on service delivery, infrastructure, transport, waste management and the pressures of a growing city.
What to watch: how ODM handles its nomination process and whether Sakaja's new affiliation translates into support among party members and Nairobi voters.
