Junet: Sakaja must join ODM to secure second term
By Kenneth Mwenda, July 5, 2026Suna East MP and ODM Director of Elections Junet Mohamed has intensified political pressure on Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, saying the governor must join the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) if he wants to win re-election in 2027.
Junet made the remarks on Sunday, July 5, 2026, during a Mega Women, Boda Boda and Hustlers Empowerment Fundraiser in Kileleshwa Ward, Nairobi, where he insisted that ODM remains the dominant political force in the capital and already control key structures at City Hall.
Junet said ODM’s influence in Nairobi goes beyond the governorship, arguing that the party effectively controls county operations through elected leaders in the assembly and Parliament.
“Chama ya ODM ndio chama kubwa hapa Nairobi. Hata hii governor Nairobi ni jina tu. ODM ndio governor hapa Nairobi,” Junet said.
He claimed that Governor Sakaja, who was elected on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket in 2022, operates in an environment where ODM-aligned leaders dominate county decision-making.
According to him, Sakaja’s political survival depends on aligning with the party ahead of the next election.
Junet also warned former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua against what he termed repeated attacks on ODM, saying the party would respond politically if provoked.
“Asicheze na chama ya ODM. Na awache hiyo matusi anapiga kila siku juu ya ODM,” he said.
He linked some of the tensions to broader national political disputes, including criticism directed at ODM leaders by the former Deputy President.
Junet added that ODM would not sit back if Sakaja continued to oppose the party’s interests in Nairobi politics.
The ODM elections director outlined an aggressive strategy for the 2027 general election, saying the party aims to capture all major elective positions in Nairobi.
He listed the governorship, Senate seat, Woman Representative seat, and parliamentary constituencies such as Dagoretti North, Lang’ata, Mathare, Ruaraka, Embakasi East, Makadara, and Kibra.
“Andika leo… tutahakikisha wabunge wetu wote wamechaguliwa… Governor atakuwa ODM. Senator atakuwa ODM. Woman rep atakuwa ODM,” Junet said.
He insisted that ODM has already mapped out victory in the capital and will consolidate its grassroots structures ahead of the polls.
Pressure on Sakaja to defect
Junet maintained that Sakaja’s best chance of retaining the Nairobi governorship is by joining ODM.
He said the party already has a preferred candidate but left room for Sakaja if he defects.
“Huyo Sakaja, kama ako bado na tamaa ya kurudi kama governor hapa Nairobi, aje ODM. Kama atabaki pale ako, ataangoja mpaka Yesu arudi,” he said.
The remarks reflect a growing trend within ODM, where several leaders have publicly urged Sakaja to abandon UDA and join the opposition party if he wants political backing in 2027.
Sakaja was elected Nairobi governor in 2022 under the UDA ticket, defeating Jubilee’s Polycarp Igathe in a tightly contested race. He has since worked closely with President William Ruto’s administration while maintaining engagement with opposition-linked leaders in Nairobi.
In recent months, Azimio MCAs have also played a role in stabilising his leadership, rejecting impeachment attempts and backing a Ksh80 billion cooperation agreement between the county and national government.
The arrangement has further complicated Nairobi’s political landscape, with both UDA and ODM claiming influence within the county structures.
Sakaja has previously responded cautiously to mounting pressure from ODM leaders to defect, signalling openness to dialogue but stopping short of committing to the party. He said he had taken note of earlier remarks from ODM figures and hinted at possible engagement with the party’s Nairobi leadership.
“I’ve heard what Aladwa and Gladys Wanga have said. Where there are clouds, there is rain. In two weeks, I want to have a meeting with ODM bosses in Nairobi. I want to show you that I’m one of you,” Sakaja said.
Gachagua enters Nairobi race debate
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has also added pressure on the Nairobi political contest, announcing plans to back a Mt Kenya candidate for the governor’s seat in 2027.
He has stated that his camp will work with Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka to build a coalition capable of winning not only the governorship but also Senate, Woman Representative and multiple parliamentary seats in Nairobi.
“We must take charge of Nairobi,” Gachagua said, signalling an early three-way contest between UDA, ODM and a Mt Kenya–Wiper alliance.
At the same time, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has confirmed he will contest the Nairobi gubernatorial seat in 2027 under a new political formation linked to the Linda Mwananchi movement.
His declaration has exposed internal divisions within ODM, with Babu suggesting that the party has lost its political structure in its current form.
ODM leadership, however, has distanced itself from his bid, with Junet clarifying that Babu is not the party’s chosen candidate for governor.