Kasarani MP Ronald Karauri has launched a scathing attack on Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja following his formal defection from the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) to the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), accusing the governor of seeking a fresh political platform to escape accountability over his record at City Hall.
Karauri's attack came moments after Sakaja was formally received into ODM at Chungwa House on Monday, November 2, 2026, as the governor positions himself to defend his Nairobi seat in the 2027 General Election.
But for Karauri, changing political parties will not change the problems confronting Nairobi or erase questions surrounding Sakaja's four-year administration.
In a statement shared on Monday, the Kasarani legislator questioned whether Sakaja expected Nairobi residents to forget the challenges facing the capital simply because he had abandoned UDA for ODM.
“Sakaja won Nairobi on a UDA ticket. He’s not leaving UDA because of any problem with the party. He’s running to ODM because he thinks a new colour will make people forget his record,” Karauri said.
The MP went further, listing collapsed buildings, flooding, garbage collection and unpaid bursaries among the issues he believes the governor should answer for.
“Collapsed buildings, flooding, garbage, unpaid bursaries, and four years of City Hall mess. Atashangaa sana. Changing parties will not erase the monumental failure,” he added.
Sakaja Makes ODM Defection Official ¶
Sakaja was elected Nairobi governor in August 2022 on a UDA ticket, defeating Jubilee candidate Polycarp Igathe. His decision to leave the ruling party follows months of speculation about his political future and growing indications that he was considering an alternative political platform ahead of the 2027 elections.
In August 2026, Sakaja confirmed that ODM officials and supporters had approached him about joining the party, although he initially maintained that he was consulting before making a final decision.
He also cited his close relationship with the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, claiming that the former ODM leader had wanted him to join the party.
The governor's political transition gathered momentum during the ODM memorial rally at Jacaranda Grounds on Saturday, October 31. Sakaja asked Nairobi residents whether he should remain in UDA, join ODM or move to the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP).
The crowd overwhelmingly urged him to join ODM, prompting the governor to seek guidance from the party leadership.
On Monday, November 2, Sakaja formally announced his decision and was received at Chungwa House by ODM Deputy Party Leader and Kisii Governor Simba Arati alongside other senior party officials.
His defection now places ODM at the centre of Nairobi's 2027 gubernatorial contest. However, joining the party does not automatically guarantee him its nomination ticket, particularly with other aspirants already positioning themselves for the same seat.
Karauri Turns Sakaja's Record Into 2027 Campaign Issue ¶
Karauri's criticism carries added political significance because he is positioning himself to challenge Sakaja for the Nairobi governorship.
The Kasarani MP has already declared his intention to contest the seat, arguing that Nairobi requires a different approach to urban management, infrastructure development and service delivery.
In an interview with Alex Mwakideu, Karauri identified building safety, weak enforcement of planning regulations and poor drainage as some of the problems motivating his gubernatorial ambition.
He has warned that Nairobi could experience more building collapses if authorities fail to address weaknesses in construction oversight and urban planning.
The MP has also raised concerns about flooding and deaths during heavy rains, arguing that the capital needs leaders willing to take responsibility for its longstanding infrastructure challenges.
Karauri has indicated that he wants to pursue the ODM ticket and previously disclosed that he had spoken to the party chairman about beginning campaign tours across Nairobi. He also claimed that his efforts had encountered interference from the party's top leadership.
His latest attack on Sakaja therefore places the two politicians on potentially competing political paths, with both interested in using ODM's political machinery to pursue the governorship.
For Karauri, the central campaign argument is that Nairobi residents should judge Sakaja based on his administration's performance rather than his latest political affiliation.
ODM Faces Fresh Battle Over Nairobi Governor Ticket ¶
Sakaja's entry into ODM has complicated the emerging contest for the party's Nairobi gubernatorial ticket.
Other politicians who have expressed interest in the seat include Makadara MP George Aladwa, while Embakasi East MP Babu Owino is expected to pursue the governorship on his own The Mwananchi Party (TMP) ticket.
Within ODM, Sakaja's arrival has also raised questions about whether politicians joining the party from other formations should compete against leaders who have spent years building its structures.
Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai has questioned whether ODM should accommodate high-profile politicians from other parties without first considering leaders who have grown within its ranks.
The nomination contest could therefore expose competing interests within the party as established politicians and new entrants position themselves for the 2027 elections.
Sakaja brings the advantage of incumbency and his existing political network, while Karauri is building his campaign around accountability, building safety, drainage and the management of Nairobi's essential services.
ODM's eventual nomination process will determine who gets the party's ticket.
For now, Karauri has made it clear that Sakaja's defection will not end the political debate over his City Hall record. As the governor seeks another five-year mandate, the Kasarani MP is preparing to make his first-term performance a central issue in the battle for Nairobi.
