Babu, Sifuna in trouble over Gachagua–Kalonzo 'deal' in Nairobi

ODM rebel politicians in Nairobi are staring at a fresh political dilemma following revelations of a covert deal between former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s DCP and Kalonzo Musyoka’s Wiper on the city’s 2027 political game plan.

The unfolding developments come at a time when Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, who also serves as the ODM secretary general, and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino have found themselves increasingly at odds with their party over its support for President William Ruto.

The two, who have openly criticised ODM’s soft approach toward the Kenya Kwanza administration, have repeatedly threatened to decamp from the party.

Sifuna and Babu form part of the vocal Kenya Moja faction that has consistently rejected President Ruto’s bid for a second term, arguing it undermines ODM’s long-standing ideological commitments. 

Their recent political manoeuvres have shown a visible tilt toward Kalonzo, a move widely interpreted as an attempt to secure the crucial Kamba voting bloc in the capital.

Political analyst Martin Andati says the duo’s resistance to ODM’s broad-based government stance is tied to raw political survival.

“Sifuna and Babu are fighting the broad-based arrangement because of their political interests. Nairobi is very cosmopolitan, and Kamba votes have shaped city politics in every election,” Andati noted.

The debate intensified on Sunday after Gachagua, speaking during a thanksgiving service at PCEA Kariobangi North, publicly claimed that DCP and Wiper had agreed on a joint political strategy for Nairobi.

According to the arrangement, DCP will field candidates for governor, senator, woman representative, MPs, and MCA seats across the capital.

“DCP is the party for Nairobi, and the Kariobangi North win is the beginning of our politics in Nairobi. We have all planned ourselves very well,” Gachagua said.

“We have agreed with the Wiper leader that the governor, senate and woman representative seats will be taken by DCP.”

He further revealed that DCP intends to field candidates in 16 out of Nairobi’s 17 constituencies and in 75 of the city’s 88 wards—a sweeping strategy that, he claimed, began with the Kariobangi North ward victory.

These claims have placed Sifuna and Babu in an even more precarious position.

Should the alleged DCP–Wiper pact hold, the two ODM rebels must decide whether to align themselves with the emerging opposition formation, renew loyalty to ODM, or chart an independent political path.

The stakes are especially high given that Gachagua’s preferred candidate for governor is believed to be his close ally, Embakasi North MP James Gakuya.

This puts Babu Owino—who has declared interest in the governorship—at a direct political disadvantage.

Its not clear yet who DCP will be fronting against Sifuna for the Senate.

However, Kalonzo moved quickly to dismiss the allegations, terming Gachagua’s assertions "as deliberate government propaganda" meant to sow discord within the United Opposition coalition.

Speaking at a thanksgiving ceremony in Machakos county, Kalonzo said:

Kalonzo insisted that the opposition alliance remains intact, united in its objective to dislodge President William Ruto from power in the 2027 elections.

“We are calling our colleagues to sit together. There’s nothing seriously wrong, and we will take a collective stand,” he said.