Nairobi, Kenya- The race for Nairobi’s top seat in 2027 is already heating up—and it’s not just the usual suspects making moves.
This week, Irungu Nyakera, former Farmers Party leader and ex-Principal Secretary, met Wiper Party boss Kalonzo Musyoka at the SKM Command Centre in what’s being widely interpreted as a strategic step toward reclaiming the Nairobi governorship from Governor Johnson Sakaja.
Nyakera, now emerging as a key player in the growing opposition alliance, discussed a range of issues with Kalonzo, including what he called the “senseless killings of clergy” and the abduction of Gen Z protesters, referencing recent state crackdowns on youth-led demonstrations.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Nyakera thanked Kalonzo for the mentorship and for addressing national concerns. “Asante sana, Your Excellency, for promising to keep mentoring young leaders,” he wrote.
Ruto-Raila Factor
Why all the urgency? President William Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga are on the same side of this political coin—for now. Both leaders, who have historically been on opposite sides, are backing Sakaja for re-election.
The Ruto-Raila alliance poses a serious challenge to the opposition’s bid to flip Nairobi in 2027.
Nyakera isn’t just dipping his toes in the Nairobi political pool—he’s diving in headfirst. The former PS is the Democratic Congress Party (DCP) patron for Nairobi and has declared interest in the 2027 gubernatorial race.
His meeting with Kalonzo, which included key figures like Farmers Party Secretary General Simon Kamangu, Kevin Malinga, and John Wambugu, is being viewed as the beginning of a larger coalition strategy.
In his own X post, Kalonzo confirmed the meeting, emphasizing a shared vision for “unlocking Nairobi’s full potential” and pushing back against “harassment and intimidation of human rights activists and opposition politicians.”
While Sakaja may have the current backing of both Ruto and Raila—a rare show of unity—the opposition isn’t backing down. If anything, the early alliances forming around Nyakera and Kalonzo show just how seriously they’re taking the 2027 Nairobi race.
