NAIROBI, Kenya — Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has mocked Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja over his apparent inclination towards seeking re-election on an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ticket, while claiming that he played a decisive role in Sakaja’s victory in the 2022 General Election.
Speaking at the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) headquarters in Lavington on Tuesday, August 25, Gachagua said he had helped Sakaja secure enough votes to win the Nairobi governorship four years ago.
Gachagua was speaking while receiving Kamkunji MP Abdullahi Yusuf, who defected from the Jubilee Party to join the DCP.
“Huyu kijana anaitwa Sakaja, ni mimi nilimkodisha kura. Naskia ati sai anataka kuingia ODM ile ya Oburu. Tunamtakia mema, na ile ODM ya Oburu haina chochote; ni shell,” Gachagua said.
The former Deputy President claimed Sakaja and his political allies would not have won the Nairobi governorship without the support he provided during the 2022 election.
He said the 2027 election would demonstrate whether the political influence he claims to have wielded in Nairobi remains intact.
Gachagua dismisses ODM influence
Gachagua also dismissed ODM’s current influence in Nairobi, arguing that the party no longer commands the political strength it once enjoyed in the capital.
He described the faction of ODM associated with former Busia Senator Oburu Oginga as a “shell” and claimed DCP was increasingly occupying the political space previously held by the opposition party.
His remarks come as political parties intensify efforts to consolidate support in Nairobi ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The capital is expected to be a major battleground, with established parties and emerging political formations seeking to control the county’s parliamentary constituencies and influence the gubernatorial contest.
DCP expands Nairobi base
Gachagua spoke shortly after receiving Kamkunji MP Abdullahi Yusuf into DCP.
The defection followed a series of moves by political leaders in Nairobi to align themselves with Gachagua’s party ahead of the 2027 elections.
Eleven Jubilee constituency officials from Nairobi have also reportedly defected to DCP, according to the party.
The latest political realignments have increased DCP’s parliamentary presence in the capital, with the party now claiming six of Nairobi’s 17 constituencies, compared with ODM’s eight.
The figures underline the emerging contest for political dominance in Nairobi, where ODM has traditionally enjoyed significant support.
Sakaja eyes second term
Sakaja has meanwhile expressed confidence that he will secure a second term as Nairobi governor, saying he intends to serve the full 10 years allowed under the Constitution.
The governor has pointed to his record in office as the basis for his re-election campaign and argued that the frequent turnover of governors has contributed to some of Nairobi’s longstanding challenges.
His apparent move towards an ODM ticket could significantly reshape the 2027 Nairobi contest, particularly if the party formally backs his bid.
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Sakaja was elected governor in 2022 on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket after defeating then-Azimio la Umoja candidate Polycarp Igathe.
The political landscape has since shifted considerably, with alliances that shaped the 2022 election giving way to new coalitions and rival formations.
Battle for Nairobi
Gachagua’s latest remarks signal a potentially fierce contest between DCP and ODM for political influence in Nairobi.
While ODM currently holds the larger number of parliamentary seats in the county, Gachagua is seeking to use recent defections to establish DCP as a major political force in the capital.
The former Deputy President’s claim that he helped propel Sakaja to victory in 2022 also places their political relationship under renewed scrutiny as the two sides position themselves ahead of the 2027 polls.
With Sakaja seeking a second term and DCP expanding its Nairobi base, the governor’s political vehicle could become one of the most closely watched questions in the capital’s 2027 contest.
