Sakaja Reveals Ruto, Raila Were Involved in Earlier Talks Over His ODM Move
Sakaja said his move from the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) to ODM had been discussed with the two leaders long before he publicly announced his defection on November 2.
According to Sakaja, the discussions established his intention to work with ODM, although the exact timing of his departure from UDA had not been agreed upon.
“The conversation of moving to ODM, yeah, is a conversation that we had with Baba and with President William Ruto. I remember before going to Addis, the president told me, listen, Baba is going, and we’re here together,” Sakaja said.
His remarks provide further details about the political consultations that preceded his defection, which has attracted attention as parties begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Sakaja Reveals Role in ODM Nairobi Activities
The Nairobi governor also disclosed that he began participating in ODM activities following the earlier discussions.
He said he received instructions on how to support the party’s activities in Nairobi, including preparations surrounding its county-level party elections.
“So I was given instructions on what to do, how to support, which I did. I’m not quite into details. But everyone who has gone through that process in Nairobi will tell you,” he added.
The remarks suggest that his relationship with ODM developed before the formal announcement of his decision to leave UDA.
Sakaja Officially Joins ODM Ahead of 2027 Election
Sakaja formally defected from UDA to ODM on November 2, positioning himself to seek another term as Nairobi governor under the Orange Party.
He was received into ODM by senior party officials, including Chairperson Gladys Wanga and Deputy Party Leader Simba Arati.
Explaining why he chose to make the announcement at this time, Sakaja said his intention to join ODM had been known to several political players.
“But the intention, the will, the decision was very clear to everyone. And so many people are saying they’re not surprised; they’re shocked. They’re not surprised because they saw it coming. But they didn’t know exactly when it would be. And I believe there’s no better time than today to do that,” Sakaja said.
Raila Had Earlier Supported Sakaja’s Re-election Bid
Sakaja’s latest remarks also revisit his political relationship with Raila, who had previously signalled support for his re-election in 2027.
The support came as the governor faced growing pressure to clarify his political alignment ahead of the next general election.
In August 2026, Sakaja had hinted at a possible departure from UDA but said he was still consulting widely before making a decision.
His eventual move to ODM now places him within the party’s political structures as preparations for the 2027 elections continue.
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Sakaja Reveals Ruto, Raila Were Involved in Earlier Talks Over His ODM Move
