Westlands Member of Parliament Tim Wanyonyi has accused the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party of betraying him during the 2022 general election after he was denied the opportunity to run for the Nairobi governorship under the Azimio la Umoja coalition.

Speaking at a local TV station, Wanyonyi revealed the behind-the-scenes frustrations he endured despite being cleared and given the party’s ticket. 

He expressed deep disappointment with the party’s last-minute decision to withdraw his candidacy in favour of the Jubilee Party’s Polycarp Igathe.

“I asked the party leader, Raila Odinga, why I vied and the party changed. But he kept on assuring me the Nairobi seat is open. I paid nomination fees, and they gave me the ticket but changed along the way and said the coalition agreement says we should leave it to the Jubilee party,” he said.

Further, Wanyonyi said he would have preferred a more transparent and democratic process within the Azimio coalition.

“I felt betrayed by the ODM party because if they said we do a joint nomination with candidates from the other political parties within Azimio,  it would have been better and clearer,” he added.

Asked whether he would be vying under the ODM ticket for the Bungoma gubernatorial race in the 2027 elections, Wanyonyi remained non-committal, choosing instead to focus on building broad-based support.

“I’ve met all leaders across all the political divides, and I told them I have come as Tim Wanyonyi, and I want you to support me so that I can start hitting the ground,” he said.

Wanyonyi’s Nairobi bid

On November 15, 2023, ODM Party leader Raila Odinga  stated that the Azimio la Umoja coalition lost the governor position  in Nairobi because their candidate (Polycarp Igathe) was “not good.”

Before Azimio declared Igathe as its gubernatorial candidate, Westland Member of Parliament Tim Wanyonyi of ODM was eyeing the coalition’s ticket.

However, he stepped down, a move that Odinga said was influenced by him. 

“I regret it myself. I was told to tell Tim to step down. Tim was good enough, and he accepted. We wanted him to be a running mate but he refused. He said we should allow him to return to Westlands,” Odinga said. 

On April 22, 2022, Azimio unveiled Igathe (Jubilee party) as its gubernatorial candidate, and Philip Kaloki (Wiper) was his running mate.