Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has officially joined the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), ending months of speculation about his political future as he prepares to seek a second term in the 2027 General Election.
Sakaja was welcomed into the party on Monday, November 2, at Chungwa House in Nairobi, where he was received by senior ODM officials, including Deputy Party Leader and Kisii Governor Simba Arati.
The governor confirmed that he would use the ODM ticket to defend his Nairobi seat, marking a departure from the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), under which he won the 2022 gubernatorial election.
His decision follows months of consultations and growing pressure from ODM leaders who had called on him to join the party if he wanted its backing in the next election.
Sakaja Reveals Why He Is Joining ODM
Sakaja’s entry into ODM follows a series of engagements with party officials and supporters over his political future.
In August 2026, the governor confirmed that he had received invitations from ODM members who wanted him to join the party.
Speaking during a Radio Citizen interview on August 26, Sakaja said he was consulting different stakeholders before making his decision.
He also revealed that the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga had previously encouraged him to join ODM.
Sakaja described Raila as a father figure, recalling that they had held several discussions about his possible departure from UDA.
“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,” he said at the time.
His political intentions became clearer on Saturday, October 31, when he attended an ODM rally at Jacaranda Grounds in Nairobi.
During the rally, Sakaja asked the crowd which political party they wanted him to join ahead of the 2027 elections.
Supporters called on him to join ODM, prompting the governor to ask the party leadership to consider welcoming him.
His appearance at Chungwa House two days later formalised the move.
Junet Mohamed Had Challenged Sakaja to Join ODM
Sakaja’s decision comes after months of public pressure from ODM leaders who wanted him to join the party ahead of the 2027 Nairobi gubernatorial contest.
In July 2026, ODM Director of Elections and Suna East MP Junet Mohamed publicly challenged the governor to abandon UDA if he wanted the Orange party’s support.
Junet maintained that ODM intended to field candidates for all elective positions in Nairobi and would not automatically back Sakaja if he remained in the ruling party.
“If Sakaja still wants to be re-elected as Nairobi governor in 2027, he should come to ODM. If he chooses to remain where he is, he will wait until Jesus returns and nobody will elect him,” Junet said during an empowerment event in Kileleshwa.
The legislator further stated that ODM had its own political ambitions in Nairobi and would not give up the gubernatorial contest without Sakaja joining the party.
What Raila Odinga Previously Said About Sakaja’s Re-election
The relationship between Sakaja and ODM dates back to the late Raila Odinga’s public remarks about the Nairobi governor’s political future.
In 2025, Raila expressed support for Sakaja’s re-election bid, urging ODM members to remember the governor when they went to the ballot.
The remarks came despite Sakaja’s association with UDA, the party under which he secured the Nairobi governorship in 2022.
With his formal entry into ODM, Sakaja is now positioning himself within the party’s structures ahead of the 2027 General Election.
His next political challenge will be navigating the party’s internal processes as the contest for the Nairobi governorship takes shape.
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