Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has confirmed that he has received calls to join the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), but says he is yet to make a decision on whether to leave the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
Sakaja said some ODM officials and party members have approached him and expressed their desire for him to join the party.
The governor said he has held meetings with ODM-aligned youths, women leaders and Members of Parliament, saying their calls could not be ignored.
“There has been that call. Some officials and party members have said that they want me to move to their party. I have had meetings with the youths who met the other day; women leaders and MPs were also present; you can’t ignore that,” Sakaja said in an interview with Radio Citizen on Wednesday.
Sakaja also linked the discussions to his close relationship with the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, saying they were close and that Odinga had wanted him to join ODM.
“In October, we will be marking one year since Raila left us, and we were very close; he was like my father, and he also wanted that. We had a lot of talks before his death,” Sakaja said.
However, Sakaja said there was no official date for him to leave UDA, adding that he was still assessing the situation and listening to what voters and political supporters want.
The Nairobi Governor said his political decision would ultimately be guided by the wishes of the people.
“There is no official date for when we will leave UDA, but the call is there. It is something I am observing; we must also look at what people are saying. If that's what they want, then I am their employee,” he said.
The governor thanked ODM members for supporting him despite his membership in another party.
He also acknowledged the support he has received from members of TNA and UDA, saying they had remained supportive throughout his political journey.
“I thank the ODM members for standing with me despite me not being in their party. I also thank the TNA and UDA members whom we have been together because they have been supportive,” he said.
Sakaja's remarks come a day after Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua claimed that the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) is losing its political influence in Nairobi.
Gachagua, who was speaking at his Wamunyoro home on Tuesday when he received leaders who defected to his party, said President William Ruto was losing key political allies, including Governor Johnson Sakaja, amid reports of a possible move to ODM.
“UDA is done. I hear Sakaja wants to move to ODM led by Oburu. We wish you the best,” Gachagua said.
