SAKaja’s UDA EXIT SHAKES NAIROBI POLITICS: ODM WELCOMES GOVERNOR AS 2027 BATTLE TAKES A NEW TURN
Sakaja’s entry into ODM has opened a new chapter in Nairobi’s political contest, but the governor’s biggest challenge may not be leaving UDA—it could be convincing the Orange party’s established leaders to support his second-term ambitions. By CivicLens Gazette | November 2, 2026 Nairobi’s political landscape has taken a dramatic turn after Governor Johnson Sakaja officially ditched the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) for the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), setting the stage for a potentially explosive contest ahead of the 2027 General Election. The move, which was formalised on Monday, November 2, at ODM headquarters in Nairobi, marks a significant shift for a governor who rose to City Hall on a UDA ticket in 2022. But beyond the headlines surrounding his defection, Sakaja’s decision has opened a deeper political question: Can he secure the ODM ticket and convince the party’s established leadership that he deserves another shot at the Nairobi gubernatorial seat? Sakaja was...