Bold claim: Nairobi’s political scene is heating up as power moves threaten the status quo, and this is exactly where the drama intensifies. George Aladwa, the Makadara MP, has turned down an overture from former Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria to be his running mate in the Nairobi governor race, opting instead to pursue the governorship himself under the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) banner in 2027.
Aladwa stated clearly that he will not serve as Kuria’s deputy and reaffirmed his intention to contest the Nairobi governorship on ODM’s ticket in 2027. This follows Kuria’s December 1, 2025, public signal of a potential cross-party partnership for the 2027 race, posting a message and photo featuring Aladwa and emphasizing a shared commitment to Nairobi beyond tribal lines or party affiliations.
Kuria argued that their combined leadership and extensive networks—local, regional, and global—give them the capacity to fix Nairobi, stressing their long history of leadership and managerial experience and insisting they are not driven by ethnicity but by results.
Aladwa spoke at Buruburu’s Bidii Primary School on December 2, 2025, to clarify his position: his goal is to return to City Hall, where he previously served as the last mayor under the old constitution in March 2013. His stance adds to a growing list of contenders aiming to unseat Governor Johnson Sakaja, who won on a UDA ticket in 2022. The list now includes Kuria, Embakasi North MP James Gakuya (aligned with DCP), Embakasi East MP Babu Owino (ODM), and former Transport Principal Secretary Nyakera Irungu (also aligned with DCP).
Aladwa reinforced to StarDigital that he will not play second fiddle in Nairobi, a message he also delivered to supporters during his Buruburu visit and in his role as ODM Nairobi Branch chairman.
The Nairobi gubernatorial race has already taken on a new dimension after former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua announced a deal with Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka to hand over the governorship to DCP, a claim Kalonzo publicly denied and criticized as a bid to sow discord within the opposition by government-linked figures.
Nairobi, a cosmopolitan metropolis, has long been characterized by shifting alliances across parties and communities since devolution began, with no governor yet managing a successful return to City Hall.
