South C MCA Abass Khalif is emerging as a notable figure in ODM’s Nairobi mobilisation machinery after turning up at the party’s Jacaranda Grounds rally with hundreds of supporters from Lang’ata Constituency.
Khalif, who has declared his intention to challenge for the Lang’ata parliamentary seat in the 2027 General Election, used the October 31 rally to demonstrate his grassroots organising capacity as ODM sought to project its political strength in Nairobi.
The Jacaranda gathering marked the climax of ODM’s month-long activities commemorating the first anniversary of the death of former party leader Raila Odinga. The rally also became an important test of the party’s mobilisation structures as competing political formations intensify their preparations for 2027.
Khalif Builds His Lang’ata Campaign Around ODM Mobilisation ¶
Khalif said he mobilised hundreds of supporters from Lang’ata and surrounding areas to attend the Jacaranda event, portraying the turnout as evidence of his growing grassroots network.
His political ambitions are not new. In December 2025, Khalif formally announced his intention to seek the Lang’ata parliamentary seat and positioned himself within ODM structures as a challenger to incumbent MP Phelix Odiwuor, popularly known as Jalang’o. He also hosted more than 4,000 registered voters during his declaration and called for increased voter registration ahead of the 2027 election.
The latest mobilisation effort has now pushed his name deeper into conversations around the future of the Lang’ata constituency.
According to an official familiar with discussions inside the party, some ODM officials have been impressed by Khalif’s ability to organise supporters and have floated the possibility of giving him the party’s direct ticket.
That possibility remains a political claim rather than a confirmed ODM decision. The party has not publicly announced that Khalif will receive the nomination, meaning the Lang’ata contest is still open as ODM prepares for its 2027 nominations.
The stakes are significant because Lang’ata remains one of Nairobi’s politically active constituencies, with ODM structures likely to attract several aspirants seeking to inherit or retain the party’s influence in the area.
Khalif is therefore building his campaign around one of the most important currencies in Nairobi politics: the ability to mobilise people when the party calls.
Jacaranda Becomes Another Test of ODM’s Nairobi Machinery ¶
The significance of Khalif’s mobilisation was amplified by the political importance of the Jacaranda rally.
ODM had deliberately chosen Jacaranda Grounds for the October 31 event after announcing plans to use the gathering to close its month-long Mwezi wa Baba commemorations. Party officials had projected a large turnout from across Nairobi, with delegates expected from all 85 wards.
The venue also carried political significance because it had hosted a major Linda Mwananchi rally in September involving politicians including Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino and Siaya Governor James Orengo.
Against that backdrop, ODM’s return to Jacaranda was about more than remembering Raila. It was also about demonstrating that the party still possesses functioning grassroots structures in Nairobi amid growing political realignments ahead of 2027.
Khalif sought to associate himself with that mobilisation effort.
“The streets spoke, the ground roared, and Nairobi witnessed a powerful wave of orange,” Khalif said, describing the procession from Lang’ata to Jacaranda as a demonstration of ODM unity.
He also invoked Raila’s political legacy, arguing that the former leader’s ideals remained central to the movement.
“Though Baba may be gone, his ideals, vision and enduring legacy remain deeply rooted in our movement,” he said.
His message places Khalif firmly within the section of ODM politicians seeking to build their political identity around the party’s traditional structures and Raila’s legacy.
Lang’ata Battle Moves Into ODM’s Nomination War ¶
Khalif’s emergence adds another layer to what could become a competitive ODM nomination battle in Lang’ata.
His campaign will depend not only on his ability to mobilise supporters but also on how the party manages competing interests as aspirants position themselves for the 2027 election.
The MCA also played down the disorder that followed the Jacaranda rally, describing it as a confrontation between supporters aligned to different political camps.
“Those were feuds between supporters of two different camps. One wanted to show the other they are stronger,” he said.
The incident was reported to have disrupted the rally as individuals grabbed the microphone and confusion broke out at the venue, although the circumstances and identities of those involved remained unclear.
For Khalif, however, the bigger political message from Jacaranda was mobilisation.
He now has to convert that visibility into a sustained constituency operation as the race for the ODM ticket takes shape. Whether the party eventually rewards that mobilisation with its nomination remains unresolved, but the South C MCA has made clear that he intends to be part of the fight for Lang’ata in 2027.
