Nairobi governor Johnson Sakaja signed into law the Nairobi City County Health Services and Management Act/HANDOUTODM leaders in Nairobi have dismissed claims that Governor Johnson Sakaja will be handed the party’s ticket if he leaves the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), insisting that any politician seeking to contest on the party’s ticket must face nominations.
ODM Nairobi County Chairman and Makadara MP George Aladwa said the party would welcome politicians leaving other parties but would not guarantee them direct tickets.
Aladwa said the party had already made it clear that anyone joining ODM and seeking an elective position would have to go through the nomination process.
“People are leaving UDA and saying they want to stand with ODM. ODM is a big and recognised party. So, as our party leader has said, everyone who comes will go through the nomination process,” Aladwa said.
His remarks come amid speculation that Sakaja could leave UDA and seek the ODM ticket to defend his Nairobi governorship in the 2027 General Election.
Sakaja was elected governor in 2022 on a UDA ticket after defeating former governor Polycarp Igathe, who ran on a Jubilee Party ticket.
Nominated Senator Hamida Kibwana echoed Aladwa’s position, saying ODM was ready to receive new members but would subject them to party primaries.
Kibwana said politicians joining ODM should not expect to be given direct tickets, regardless of their political profile.
“We welcome him, and we welcome all the people who want to join ODM. But we are telling them that we will have party primaries, we will have nominations. If he qualifies, we will welcome him,” Kibwana said.
The leaders' remarks effectively rule out an automatic ODM ticket for Sakaja should he decide to leave UDA and join the opposition party.
Sakaja has been the subject of political speculation as parties and politicians position themselves ahead of the 2027 elections, with Nairobi expected to be one of the closely contested political battlegrounds.
For ODM, the insistence on competitive nominations means potential defectors will have to compete with existing party members and other aspirants for the opportunity to fly the party’s flag.said politicians joining ODM should not expect to be given direct tickets, regardless of their political profile.
The remarks come days after Sakaja confirmed that he had received calls from ODM officials and members urging him to join the party, although he said he was still considering his options.
Speaking in an interview with Radio Citizen on August 26, Sakaja said he had held meetings with ODM-aligned youths, women leaders and MPs but had not set a date for leaving UDA. He said his political decision would ultimately be guided by what Nairobi residents want.
“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,” Sakaja said.
In July, ODM director of elections and Suna East MP Junet Mohamed told Sakaja to join ODM, arguing that Nairobi remained an ODM stronghold and that the party would not support him if he remained in UDA.
