Sakaja's exit fractures UDA in Nairobi as internal wrangles begin

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja's exit from the ruling party, United Democratic Alliance (UDA), last week and the subsequent entry of Kasarani MP Ronald Karauri on Monday have ruffled feathers within the ruling party, threatening an imminent fallout in the party's support base in the city.

Monday's unveiling of Karauri at the party's headquarters has been interpreted by observers as a checkmate to ODM's unveiling of Sakaja, but it has sparked dissent from a section of the party's leaders who are pulling in a different direction.

A section of the party's constituency chairpersons has criticised the event, accusing a section of the party's leaders who organised the unveiling of not consulting them.

The leaders include Ruaraka chairperson Dr Boaz Cheluget and Patrick Musili Mbangula, who is the chairperson of Kenya Water Institute, who also served as Deputy Minority Leader in the Nairobi County Assembly between 2017 and 2022.

They raised their dissatisfaction during a closed-door consultative meeting with Mbangula, who is seeking to vie for the Gubernatorial seat in 2027 on a UDA ticket.

The meeting had a number of chairs from the 17 sub-counties.

During his unveiling, Karauri vowed to ensure that UDA retains the gubernatorial seat in his speech.

"The Nairobi gubernatorial seat belongs to UDA. There are those who said UDA is done in Nairobi. The party was sleeping but from today it has woken up." Karauri said.

Among the Nairobi-elected leaders present at Karauri's unveiling were Dagoretti South MP John Kiarie and Nominated Senator Karen Nyamu.

However, notably absent was Nominated Senator Tabitha Mutinda, who is also seeking the party's ticket for the Nairobi woman representative seat.

While a number of MCAs were present, a number of big names were notably missing.

Top on the list in Nairobi South, MCA Waithera Chege, who doubles up as the Deputy Minority Leader in the county assembly, was absent.

Waithera hosted Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku in South B last week for a public engagement, and it is there that Ruku signalled his intent to vie for the Nairobi Gubernatorial seat.

She has been at the forefront, leading the onslaught against what she has termed poor governance from Sakaja.

Woodley MCA Davidson Ngubuini, alias DNG, has also been a huge critic of Sakaja, but he was also not present during Karauri's unveiling. He was holding another empowerment event of his own.

Minority Leader Anthony Kiragu, Ngara Ward MCA Chege Mwaura and California Ward MCA Hashim Kamau were also absent.

Others who were absent include Komarock ward MCA Chris Mtumishi and Mowlem ward MCA Martin Wairobi, Nominated MCA, Hon. Cecilia Wairimu, together with Nominated MCA Virginia Kang'ethe.

Their absence, especially given the magnitude of the event, has raised questions over whether they were invited or not and whether they are not siding with the party's direction in Nairobi, thus opting to snub the event.

While the reason for their absence remains unclear, the signal of unease within the ruling party in Nairobi is the opposite.

National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wa graced the unveiling, appearing to endorse Karauri.

"Nairobi with captain is the place to be. We welcome you as our UDA candidate for Nairobi to compete and fight in a friendly match with our compatriots in ODM and we are confident that as we took over Nairobi in 2022, even in 2027, Nairobi will be UDA." Ichung'wa said.

In his speech, MP Kiarie said that while the door was still open for more defectors from other parties to join UDA, Karauri had the upper hand.

"You will hear many others coming to the party to contest for seats, but this one who has arrived early, his work will begin early," said Kiarie.

It is this statement that raises questions around sections of the party on why other aspirants who were already in the party before Karauri are being overlooked.

Despite the Karauri endorsement, Mbangula still insists that he is ready for battle to get the ticket.

"Let them continue coming. Sakaja ran away, Karauri came. Come rain, come sunshine, I will battle with them." Patrick told the Standard.

Musili was Bishop Margaret Wanjiru's running mate in 2022 before she was told to step down and vie for the Senate seat, leaving the Governor position for Sakaja.

The party has already been bruised by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, whose Democracy for the Citizens party (DCP) now has three of the party's four members of Parliament in Nairobi aligning with it.

They include Embakasi North's James Gakuya, Embakasi Central's Benjamin Gathiru and Roysambu's Mwafrika Kamande.

A number of MCAs elected on UDA have also defected to DCP, including CBD's Kwenya Mwaniki and Samuel Kago (Mwiki).

Speaking during the first commemoration of Raila's death at Kamukunji grounds on 31st October, Senator Nyamu demaded zoning in the city.

"In Nairobi we have UDA and ODM. If the Governor is ODM, Woman Rep is for UDA, Senator for ODM because that is broad based." said Nyamu.

President Ruto's game plan and strategy in Nairobi politics are also on the weighing scale, especially after Sakaja's exit.

Ichung'wa on Monday said that he got express orders from the Head of State to receive Karauri.

"I was told by our party leader who is our party leader and also leads the National Steering Committee and the National Executive Council. He called me in the morning and told me to stop any other business and go receive Captain Karauri." said Kimani.

Questions have also been raised over why the President has been campaigning for Lang'ata Mp Felix Odiwuor alias Jalang'o who is in ODM, despite the presence of other Senatorial aspirants within the party.

CS Ruku's entrance into the race has also elicited mixed reactions among UDA faithful and now questions continue to mount over how the party will navigate the internal wrangles to avoid flopping in Nairobi in 2027.