Ruto, Wanga move to calm UDA-ODM tensions in Nairobi

The contest for the Nairobi gubernatorial seat is threatening to divide the political outfit, with questions over zoning continuing to fuel tensions.

On Friday, Ruto hosted UDA and ODM delegates from Nairobi and called for unity in the vote-rich county.

The meeting brought together more than 1,500 delegates, including MPs, MCAs and representatives from Nairobi's 17 constituencies, to discuss ways of strengthening the coalition in the capital following days of defections by key political figures.

The UDA party leader took to his social media accounts to push for unity, saying the meeting had committed to using the structures of the two political parties to strengthen cooperation in cosmopolitan Nairobi ahead of next year's election.

“We identified priority development programmes, whose implementation we agreed to accelerate, including affordable housing, modern markets and road development to ease traffic congestion, improved drainage to address flooding, better water and sanitation services, and waste management to make Nairobi cleaner, more liveable and attractive to investors,” Ruto added.

The meeting came days after Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja left UDA for ODM in what was viewed as a tactical move to secure his re-election bid ahead of the party nominations in early 2027.

Sakaja's departure, however, saw Kasarani MP Ronald Karauri, who has also declared interest in the county's top seat, join UDA in a dramatic political twist.

Sakaja, Karauri and Makadara MP George Aladwa are all eyeing the Nairobi governor's seat under the broad-based political arrangement, a contest that has heightened tensions and threatened to split the coalition's support base in the populous county.

The senatorial seat and several parliamentary positions in Nairobi have also attracted multiple aspirants within the broad-based camp, further complicating the question of political zoning.

Nairobi had more than 2.4 million registered voters in 2022, making it a key battleground ahead of the 2027 General Election.

“We also committed to using the structures of our two political parties to strengthen unity in cosmopolitan Nairobi ahead of next year's election,” Ruto stated.

“We identified priority development programmes, whose implementation we agreed to accelerate, including affordable housing, modern markets and road development to ease traffic congestion, improved drainage to address flooding, better water and sanitation services, and waste management to make Nairobi cleaner, more liveable and attractive to investors.”