ODM Nairobi County Chairman George Aladwa has unveiled a strategy to consolidate the party's influence in the capital ahead of the 2027 General Election. Addressing constituency chairmen at a Nairobi hotel, Aladwa emphasized the importance of strengthening grassroots networks and revitalizing party structures across all 17 constituencies.

Aladwa outlined plans to hold a series of delegates’ meetings at county and constituency levels, aiming to reconnect with ODM’s political base and mobilize supporters citywide. "Our immediate task is to build a stronger party and win as many elective seats as possible in Nairobi," he stated.

Maintaining Nairobi as ODM Stronghold

For years, Nairobi has been a key stronghold for ODM, delivering significant wins in parliamentary, senatorial, and woman representative seats. In the 2022 elections, ODM secured eight parliamentary seats, including Westlands, Makadara, and Kibra, as well as the Senate and Woman Representative positions, totaling 10 of 20 city seats.

However, the political landscape has shifted substantially following the death of Raila Odinga, the collapse of the Azimio coalition, and the rise of new political alliances. Despite these changes, Aladwa affirmed ODM’s commitment to retaining its dominance and expanding its foothold in the capital.

New Political Alignments and ODM’s Role

ODM has distanced itself from former Azimio partners such as Jubilee, Wiper, and DAP-Kenya, opting to craft an independent political path. The party will continue participating in the broad-based government and plans to support President William Ruto in the upcoming presidential race.

Aladwa explained, "ODM structures in Nairobi will work to ensure President William Ruto receives strong support in the city. Our strategy is to safeguard ODM’s traditional bases while mobilizing voters behind the President." He highlighted the use of ward leadership and branch officials to translate political agreements into electoral gains.

Political Context in Nairobi

  • In 2022, President Ruto’s UDA won the governor’s seat and four constituencies.
  • Raila Odinga defeated Ruto in Nairobi by over 200,000 votes.
  • New coalitions and shifting alliances have reshaped Nairobi’s political terrain.

With these dynamics at play, ODM’s leadership in Nairobi is intensifying efforts to activate grassroots support and secure as many seats as possible in the forthcoming elections.