Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi has claimed that his withdrawal from the Nairobi gubernatorial race at the request of the Azimio coalition ahead of the 2022 general election played a major role in Governor Johnson Sakaja’s victory.

Speaking to a local TV station on Thursday, April 17, 2025, Wanyonyi said his supporters were disappointed when he was asked to drop his bid for the governor’s seat, and many of them shifted their support to Sakaja.

“Hatakama namezea hiyo kiti mate last time mimi nilikuwa kwa kinyang’anyiro ya ugavana, na huyu jamaa anajua ya kwamba kura zangu ndio zilimweka kwa hiyo kiti, kwa sababu nilipoondolewa watu walikasirika na wakasema watapigia yeye kura, hawatapigia yule walileta aniridhi,”he said.

Which loosely translates;

“Even though I desired that seat, the truth is I was in the race. And this guy knows that my votes are what put him there. When I was asked to step down, people were angry and said they would vote for him, not the one who had been endorsed.”

Wanyonyi on Sakaja’s leadership

The MP also took a swipe at Sakaja’s leadership, accusing the governor of neglecting his Westlands constituency. He claimed that the governor has neither visited the area nor initiated any development projects there.

“Ametenga eneo langu la Westlands; hakanyagangi huku, hajafanya nothing kitu yeyote tumefanya akika eneo la Westlands ni mimi mwenyewe na wale watu ambao wanashirikiana na mimi,” he added.

Which loosely translates;

“He has neglected my Westlands constituency; he doesn’t come here and has not done anything. Everything that has been done, I have done it myself, along with the people who work with me.”

Governorship ambitions

On Wednesday, February 12, 2025, the vocal lawmaker reaffirmed his bid for Nairobi governorship in 2027. Taking to his social media channels, he expressed strong determination to pursue the position, emphasising that his ambition is still alive and has not been abandoned or destroyed by anyone or anything.

He added that he will make the capital city great again if elected.

“No one has killed the dream—Mpaka ballot. We will reclaim Nairobi and make it a home where all belong,” Wanyonyi reaffirmed.

Wanyonyi stepped aside

In the 2022 general elections, Wanyonyi initially sought the Nairobi gubernatorial seat but dropped his gubernatorial ambition in favour of Polycarp Igathe due to coalition agreements within the Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya Coalition.

Following Azimio’s new lineup, Wanyonyi opted to defend his parliamentary seat for the third time.

The MP declared his stand in a video shared on his social media pages.

“I am ready to serve the people of Westlands for the third time, and I remain firmly in my party, ODM and Azimio la Umoja One Kenya. To all my supporters, thank you for believing in me; the dream lives on,” he said.

Wanyonyi said his leadership philosophy has been centred on the people for the years he has served Westlands residents.

“Leadership has been about serving people. This has been my philosophy for the past 15 years, and I am confident it shall remain so. As I have said before, it has never been about me, and it shall never be about me. It will always be about the people,” he added.