NAIROBI, Kenya — Makadara MP George Aladwa has dismissed former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria’s announcement naming him as a running mate in the 2027 Nairobi gubernatorial race, insisting he will be vying for the city’s top seat on his own terms.
Speaking on Tuesday, December 2, Aladwa said he was surprised by Kuria’s claims and made it clear he will not accept a deputy position in the upcoming election.
“I saw Moses Kuria saying that I will be his deputy. I won’t be anyone’s deputy. I have been the Mayor of Nairobi, and now I am running for Nairobi Governor,” the ODM legislator said.
Aladwa, a former Nairobi Mayor and long-time ODM figure, said his name will be on the ballot as the ODM candidate for governor, setting the stage for a competitive race for control of Kenya’s capital.
The MP’s response follows a poster shared by Kuria on Sunday, November 30, in which the former CS unveiled what he claimed to be a joint ticket — himself for governor and Aladwa as deputy.
In his statement, Kuria said the partnership was motivated not by tribal or party considerations but by a shared desire to “fix Nairobi.”
“Not because of our tribes. Not because of our parties. Because we care for Nairobi. Because we understand what Nairobians are going through… Because we have what it takes to make Nairobi work again,” Kuria said.
Kuria, who declared his own bid for governor on October 12, has promised to transform Nairobi into a model of “cleanliness and efficiency,” pledging sweeping reforms if elected.
Aladwa’s rejection of Kuria’s overture underscores the high political stakes surrounding the Nairobi governorship, a seat that often attracts heavyweight contestants from across the political divide.
With ODM expected to mount a serious fight to reclaim City Hall, and Kuria positioning himself as a reform candidate, the race is already drawing sharp early positioning more than two years to the polls.
