Lead image for ODM’s headache: Party faces tough test to retain Nairobi political base .
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) faces an uphill task in its bid to maintain its dominance in Nairobi ahead of the 2027 General Election following the death of its former leader, Raila Odinga.
Since the party was founded in 2005, Mr Odinga helped ODM maintain its grip on Nairobi, outshining rival parties as he remained a popular presidential candidate among city residents.
In the 2022 General Election, ODM won the Nairobi Senate seat, the Woman Representative position, 38 county assembly seats and eight of the 17 parliamentary seats.
The party’s Nairobi MPs included TJ Kajwang (Ruaraka), Phelix Odiwuor ‘Jalang’o’ (Lang’ata), Peter Orero (Kibra), Anthony Oluoch (Mathare), Tim Wanyonyi (Westlands), Beatrice Elachi (Embakasi North), George Aladwa (Makadara) and Babu Owino (Embakasi East).
Through ODM, Esther Passaris and Edwin Sifuna also won the Woman Representative and Senate seats respectively.
However, following Mr Odinga’s death, the party faces a difficult task, particularly after internal wrangles that have left the party split into two factions under the party leader Dr Oburu Oginga and former secretary-general and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna.
Read: Nairobi at the centre of 2027 power games as alliances shift ahead of polls
The challenge facing ODM was highlighted two weeks ago when Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi met Dr Oginga and was urged to return to Nairobi to contest the governorship in 2027.