NAIROBI, Kenya – Winnie Odinga’s decision to contest the Nairobi senatorial seat in the 2027 General Election has sparked fresh debate over political alliances in the capital, with Nominated Senator Karen Nyamu questioning whether Winnie and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino can pursue their ambitions under the same political banner.
Winnie, the youngest daughter of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and a member of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), announced her bid on Thursday during a memorial event for her father in Siaya County.
Her declaration has introduced another major contender into Nairobi’s emerging political calculations, with the Senate seat currently held by Edwin Sifuna, who has declared his intention to run for president on The Equitable Party (TEP) ticket. The party is in the process of being rebranded as Linda Mwananchi.
On Friday, Nyamu questioned whether Nairobi’s diverse electorate could support both Winnie’s senatorial ambitions and Babu’s bid for governor without creating competing political interests.
“In a city of over 40 tribes, we can’t have Babu Owino and Winnie Odinga, both from the same tribe, in one political lineup. One of them will inevitably be a casualty of Nairobi’s political balancing act,” Nyamu said.
Babu has already begun campaigning for the governorship, seeking to succeed incumbent Johnson Sakaja in 2027.
Nyamu Urges Winnie To Remain In ODM
Nyamu, who has declared her intention to contest the Nairobi woman representative seat, said Winnie should remain in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) if she wants to preserve her father’s political legacy.
“The logical thing for Winnie Odinga will be to join ODM because she precisely said that she wants to carry on the legacy of her father. You cannot carry on the legacy of your father outside the party he built for decades,” she said.
Her remarks place Winnie’s political choice at the centre of a wider debate about ODM’s future and the possible emergence of new political alignments ahead of the 2027 elections.
Winnie’s next political steps could influence how leaders seeking different Nairobi seats position themselves, particularly if she aligns with a political camp that also attracts Sifuna and other figures associated with Linda Mwananchi.
Linda Mwananchi Alignment Could Complicate Babu’s Bid
Nyamu also warned that a possible Winnie Odinga association with Linda Mwananchi could complicate Babu’s gubernatorial ambitions, particularly if the emerging political formation gives priority to Winnie’s senatorial bid.
“If Winnie is going to join Linda Mwananchi then she will completely destroy Babu Owino,” Nyamu said.
She argued that Nairobi’s cosmopolitan electorate and the need to balance political interests could make it difficult for both politicians to secure positions on the same platform.
Nyamu further suggested that Babu was unlikely to abandon his bid for governor and could seek another political vehicle if the emerging alignment failed to accommodate his ambitions.
The competing ambitions have raised questions about whether Nairobi’s aspirants will negotiate a common political arrangement or pursue separate tickets as parties and alliances take shape ahead of the 2027 General Election.
