NAIROBI, Kenya- Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has confirmed that he is in talks with officials and members of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) over a possible move from the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
Sakaja, speaking during an interview with Radio Citizen on Wednesday, August 26, said discussions about his potential move to ODM are ongoing, although he has not made a final decision on when, or whether, he will leave UDA.
“There has been that call. Some officials and party members have said that they want me to move to their party,” Sakaja said.
The governor said he was consulting widely before making a decision, adding that the views of his supporters would play an important role.
“There is no official date for when we will leave UDA, but the call is there. It is something I am observing, we must also look at what people are saying. If that’s what they want then I am their employee,” he said.
Sakaja’s long relationship with Raila
Sakaja linked his consideration of ODM to his close relationship with the party’s late leader, Raila Odinga.
He said Raila was like a father to him and that the former opposition chief had wanted him to join ODM before his death.
“In October, we will be marking one year since Raila left us and we were very close, he was like my father, and he also wanted that,” Sakaja said.
The governor said he and Raila remained in close communication before his death and that the idea of him joining ODM had therefore been discussed previously.
ODM has been courting Sakaja
Sakaja’s comments confirm that the possibility of his move to ODM is no longer merely political speculation.
ODM Director of Elections and Suna East MP Junet Mohamed has previously publicly urged the governor to join the party if he wants to retain his Nairobi seat in the 2027 General Election. Junet argued that ODM remains a dominant political force in the capital and said the party would not support Sakaja’s re-election unless he joined its ranks.
The governor has previously hinted at the possibility of working with ODM, but Wednesday’s remarks provide the clearest confirmation yet that discussions are actively taking place.
Gachagua weighs in
The development also comes amid increased political movement around Nairobi ahead of the 2027 election.
On Tuesday, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua claimed that Sakaja was preparing to leave UDA for ODM, saying President William Ruto was losing key political allies. Gachagua welcomed the reported move while dismissing ODM’s current strength.
Sakaja’s position is particularly significant because he won the Nairobi governorship on a UDA ticket in 2022, defeating former Nairobi governor Polycarp Igathe, who ran on an Azimio ticket.
A move to ODM would therefore represent a major political shift for the governor and could reshape the contest for Nairobi in 2027.
Despite confirming the talks, Sakaja stopped short of announcing a defection.
He said there was no official date for leaving UDA and emphasised that he was still listening to political stakeholders and residents.
