Kenya’s African Union Commission (AUC) Chairmanship candidate Raila Odinga has endorsed the leadership of Nairobi county governor Johnson Sakaja as the 2027 gubernatorial race for the city county continues to hot up.
Speaking at the Bomas of Kenya on Monday, February 10, 2025, during the interdenominational prayer service that was organized for him by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Women’s Chapter ahead of the AUC polls scheduled for Saturday, February 15, Raila endorsed Sakaja to take care of his political affairs in Nairobi in his absentia.
Raila on Sakaja’s leadership
The former Prime Minister referred to Sakaja as his son, noting that he wanted Nairobi to remain steadfast under the leadership of the first term city governor, as he heads to AUC.
“Nataka Nairobi ibaki imara, ndo huyu kijana wangu huyu ashikilie, afanye kazi sawa sawa,” Raila said as he pointed at Sakaja who had joined the prayer event.
Speaking at the same event, Sakaja hinted at joining the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party.
Makadara MP George Aladwa and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga who adds up as the ODM National Chairperson had urged Sakaja to exit President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and join the Orange party.
“While you are away Baba, we want our great Governor Sakaja to take charge and also join ODM so that we can work together,’’ Aladwa said.
In response, Sakaja promised that he would think about the proposal and omised to hold a meeting with ODM leaders in Nairobi after a fortnight, which could be a major pointer to a looming change of allegiance for the governor.
“I have heard what Aladwa and Wanga have said. Dalili ya mvua ni nini?……Mwenye macho haambiwi nini? Na mwenye masikio haambiwi… Sisi tuko hapo bumper-to-bumper. Tuko pamoja,” Sakaja said as the crowd at Bomas cheered.
“Nataka tupange baadaye tukimaliza maombi ya baba wiki hii. Wiki mbili zikifika hivi nataka niwe na mkutano na wamama viongozi wa Nairobi wa ODM tukae tuzungumziane. Tutakaa na machairmen pia tuzungumziane niwaonyeshe mimi ni kijana wenu.”
Jitters in ODM
This move could, however, cause jitters with the ODM quarters, as the Nairobi gubernatorial seat has attracted other Orange party staunch members.
Among the ODM candidates salivating for the Nairobi gubernatorial seat are Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino and his Westlands counterpart Tim Wanyonyi.
During the 2022 general elections, Wanyonyi relinquished his ambitions for Polycarp Igathe who flied the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party ticket in Nairobi.
However, Igathe was floored by Sakaja who vied on a UDA ticket. Igathe has since disappeared from the political scenes with Sakaja, Babu Owino, former Kiambu governor Ferdinand Waititu, and journalist Tony Gachoka being the candidates that have so far declared their interest for the City county top seat.