ODM seeks to prove political might in Nairobi with rally after Linda Mwananchi show

ODM will Saturday storm Nairobi in a high-stakes political show of might, barely weeks after Senator Edwin Sifuna's Linda Mwananchi brigade staged a massive rally in the capital.

The Orange party has chosen Jacaranda Grounds, the same venue where Sifuna and his allies flexed their political muscles, setting the stage for a supremacy battle over the city's crucial vote.

Eyes are cast on whether the party will mobilise sufficiently to fill the grounds, which sits in Babu Owino's Embakasi East constituency.

Langata MP Phelix Odiwuor after an inspection of the grounds said all is set for the meeting. "We are ready. It will be massive. All roads lead to Jacaranda."

The rally is widely seen as an attempt by ODM bigwigs to reassert their authority in a city where Sifuna's growing political influence is threatening to upset the party's traditional dominance.

With the 2027 elections approaching, the showdown could offer an early indication of who commands the political loyalty of Nairobi residents following Raila Odinga's death last year.

ODM has intensified mobilisation across the capital, erecting massive billboards and deploying grassroots teams to drum up support.

Party officials have particularly targeted populous Eastlands, where door-to-door campaigns are underway to mobilise supporters for the meeting.

However, Nairobi ODM chairman George Aladwa dismissed suggestions that the party has organised to counter Sifuna's political influence.

"We have planned our rally. Our aim is not to compare our strength with anyone because Nairobi is and has been an ODM stronghold. Everyone knows that," Aladwa said.

The Makadara MP insisted that the meeting is part of the party's wider strategy to consolidate its political base ahead of next year's elections.

"We want to talk to our people. We want to tell them our plan. We want to tell the roadmap. The most important thing is for ODM to retain the seats we have currently and add more next year," he said.

But behind the public assurances lies a fierce political contest for Nairobi, a city that has remained central to ODM's electoral fortunes for nearly two decades.

Sifuna's growing influence, coupled with his political association with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, has seemingly complicated the Orange party's calculations.

The three leaders are increasingly emerging as a formidable political force capable of challenging ODM's grip on the capital.

Political analyst Martin Andati warned that ODM faces an uphill task retaining its dominance without Raila, whose personal appeal transcended ethnic and party affiliations.

"Raila was larger than ODM. All the major communities in Nairobi supported him, and that is why he dominated Nairobi politics for so many years," Andati said.

He argued that Sifuna, Gachagua and Kalonzo could emerge as the biggest beneficiaries of the changing political landscape.

ODM's troubles have been compounded by its growing political cooperation with President William Ruto's UDA, a development that has alienated sections of its traditional strongholds.

The collapse of the Azimio coalition has also complicated matters.

Former allies, including Wiper, Jubilee and DAP-Kenya, are increasingly gravitating towards the opposition camp associated with Gachagua.

In 2022, Raila defeated Ruto in the capital by 767,395 votes against 561,775.

ODM also captured eight of Nairobi's 17 parliamentary seats, alongside the Senate and Woman Representative positions.

Its Azimio partners secured another four constituencies, leaving Ruto's ruling UDA with four parliamentary seats and the governorship.

But those numbers could change dramatically in 2027.

ODM national chairperson Gladys Wanga insists the party remains strong enough to defend its territory.

"As ODM, we are united and the party is strong here in Nairobi. As we head to the 2027 elections, all seats in Nairobi belong to ODM," Wanga said.

"When we say the MCA is ODM and the MP is ODM, we will also organise ourselves to win even more parliamentary seats than we currently hold."

However, Raila's death and the subsequent division in ODM and Azimio Coalition are threatening the party's fortunes.

Sifuna has left the party alongside Embakasi East MP Babu Owino who is now positioning himself for the Nairobi governorship, potentially complicating ODM's electoral strategy.