Embakasi North MP James Gakuya has rejected pressure to withdraw from the 2027 Nairobi gubernatorial contest in favour of Babu Owino or any other opposition aspirant, insisting that candidates must be selected through transparent joint nominations.
Gakuya said he would support a single opposition candidate if the person emerged from a fair and credible selection process, but ruled out political arrangements that require some aspirants to abandon their ambitions without competing.
Speaking during a television interview on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, the legislator argued that coalition negotiations should not become a tool for imposing preferred candidates on political parties.
“I think parties should be allowed to participate in elections and offer leadership. However, coalition-building must have clear structures for fairly picking candidates. I cannot be told to step down for somebody. That can never work,” Gakuya said.
He proposed joint nominations involving parties within the United Opposition, saying the process would allow interested politicians to compete before the coalition settles on one candidate.
“If the United Opposition wants unity, it should establish joint nomination mechanisms for the gubernatorial race. Once a candidate is fairly selected, all parties can support that one candidate. But forcing someone to step down for another is not logical,” he added.
His position introduces another challenge for opposition leaders seeking to coordinate their candidates ahead of the August 2027 General Election.
Gakuya faces Babu Owino and other Nairobi governor aspirants
Gakuya’s remarks come as several politicians position themselves to succeed Governor Johnson Sakaja, whose decision to join ODM has added another dimension to the Nairobi political contest.
Among the prominent aspirants is Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, who has announced that he intends to contest the governorship using The Mwananchi Party (TMP) as his political vehicle.
Owino has pointed to his parliamentary experience and record in Embakasi East as part of his case for leading the county.
He is also associated with the Linda Mwananchi political movement, which has been linked to Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and wider opposition consultations.
Gakuya, meanwhile, is associated with the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), led by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
KANU spokesperson Tony Gachoka has also announced his intention to seek the Nairobi governorship on his party’s ticket.
Other politicians linked to the contest include Kasarani MP Ronald Karauri and Makadara MP George Aladwa.
Sakaja, who recently defected from UDA to ODM, is also seeking another term as governor.
The growing list of aspirants raises questions about whether opposition parties will field separate candidates or negotiate a joint arrangement before the election.
Gakuya insists opposition unity must involve fair nominations
Gakuya’s latest position reflects his attempt to balance calls for opposition unity with his determination to remain in the gubernatorial race.
In April 2026, the Embakasi North MP called on opposition parties to consider presenting one candidate for Nairobi, warning that multiple aspirants from the same political camp could divide their support.
He argued that the process of identifying a common presidential candidate should also extend to key county contests, including the Nairobi governorship.
However, his latest remarks make clear that he does not support a unity arrangement in which political leaders simply negotiate among themselves and instruct certain aspirants to withdraw.
Instead, he wants parties to establish clear nomination rules that allow candidates to compete before agreeing to support the winner.
The legislator has also previously indicated that he could contest as an independent candidate if he fails to secure the DCP nomination.
In an interview published on October 22, Gakuya said he would not abandon his gubernatorial ambition simply because the party denied him its ticket.
His position suggests that the DCP nomination process could become an important test of how the party manages competing ambitions within its ranks.
Sakaja’s ODM entry complicates Nairobi nomination contest
The Nairobi gubernatorial contest has become more complicated following Sakaja’s formal entry into ODM on Monday, November 2, 2026.
The governor was welcomed at the party’s headquarters, Chungwa House, as he prepared to pursue a second term under the Orange party.
His arrival has raised questions about the party’s nomination process, particularly because Makadara MP George Aladwa, who chairs ODM in Nairobi, has also expressed interest in the governorship.
ODM leaders have indicated that aspirants seeking the party’s ticket will have to participate in a nomination process rather than automatically receive direct nominations.
Kisii Governor and ODM Deputy Party Leader Simba Arati has also said Kasarani MP Ronald Karauri would be welcome if he decided to join the party and seek its ticket.
The developments mean ODM could face an internal contest involving several politicians seeking to represent the party in the Nairobi gubernatorial election.
Outside ODM, Gakuya and Babu Owino are pursuing their ambitions through different political formations, adding to the challenge of negotiating a common opposition candidate.
Joint nominations could determine opposition strategy
Gakuya’s proposal places the question of joint nominations at the centre of discussions about opposition unity in Nairobi.
For such an arrangement to work, participating parties would need to agree on the nomination rules, eligible aspirants, voting procedure and how the winning candidate would be supported by the wider coalition.
The process could also determine how parties handle candidates who fail to secure the joint ticket but remain determined to contest independently or under their original party banners.
With the 2027 elections approaching, Nairobi’s competing political interests are likely to test the opposition’s ability to balance coalition unity with the ambitions of individual leaders.
For Gakuya, the position is clear: he is willing to support a common opposition candidate, but he wants that candidate chosen through a process in which all interested aspirants have a fair opportunity to compete.
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