NAIROBI, Kenya — Lang’ata Member of Parliament Phelix Odiwuor, popularly known as Jalang’o, has declared his intention to vie for the Nairobi Senate seat in the 2027 General Election, setting up a possible showdown with ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna.
Jalang’o made the announcement on Tuesday during an interview on Radio 47, confirming months of speculation about his political future and signalling a major shift ahead of the next polls.
Elected Lang’ata MP in 2022 on an ODM ticket, Jalang’o said he is ready to take on the capital’s top legislative seat, arguing that his political experience and national exposure make him well-suited to represent Nairobi residents.
“There is nothing that stops me from becoming the Senator of Nairobi or even the governor,” Jalang’o said.
“I have walked in various parts of the country and come to understand what people need. I can confirm that I will be vying for the Senate seat in Nairobi.”
Jalang’o’s declaration follows a series of joint public appearances that had already raised political eyebrows. In recent weeks, he has been seen alongside Lands Principal Secretary and former Lang’ata MP Nixon Korir, as well as South C Ward MCA Abass Khalif.
Abass has since announced his intention to contest the Lang’ata parliamentary seat, a move widely interpreted as clearing the path for Jalang’o to seek higher office.
Asked whether the meetings signalled an agreement to vacate his current seat, Jalang’o confirmed that his focus has shifted to the Nairobi Senate race.
Jalang’o’s entry into the race adds pressure on Senator Edwin Sifuna, who has in recent months found himself at the centre of internal wrangles within ODM.
Last week, ODM party leader Oburu Odinga sharply criticised Sifuna, accusing him of undermining party unity and blurring the line between personal opinion and official party policy.
In a strongly worded letter dated Friday, Oburu dismissed Sifuna’s claims that the party leadership was not duly elected, insisting that all current officials are legitimately in office and backed by resolutions of party organs.
“No one is bigger than the party,” Oburu said, accusing the Nairobi Senator of contradiction and sowing confusion among members and supporters.
The Siaya Senator further faulted Sifuna for remarks questioning Oburu’s legitimacy as party leader, saying the claims had no constitutional or organisational basis.
Despite the criticism, Sifuna has maintained an increasingly defiant posture within ODM. He has publicly opposed the party’s cooperation with President William Ruto’s administration and has repeatedly stated that ODM should field its own presidential candidate in 2027.
Sifuna has also insisted he will not resign from his role as party Secretary General, even as pressure mounts from sections of the party leadership.
The growing rift has fuelled speculation of an eventual split within ODM, with rival camps pushing competing political strategies ahead of the next election cycle.
If Jalang’o follows through on his declaration, the Nairobi Senate race is expected to become one of the most closely watched contests in 2027.
Nairobi remains a key political battleground, with its Senate seat often serving as a springboard for national influence.
