Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku has warned that he could walk away from the Orange Democratic Movement and take supporters with him to the Linda Mwananchi movement, deepening political tensions in the county ahead of the 2027 elections.
Lenku issued the warning on Saturday, saying ODM’s leadership must address what he described as a betrayal of the party’s supporters in Kajiado. He specifically objected to ODM figures campaigning alongside politicians who are not seeking office on the party’s ticket.
“ODM will close shop in Kajiado county. We are the people who brought ODM here, made it respected,” Lenku said.
He said he would consider leaving if the party did not apologise.
“We are, however, ready to leave it if the party continues to betray us,” he said.
Lenku also called on ODM’s national leadership to explain why party officials had supported candidates aligned with the United Democratic Alliance, saying such cooperation had angered members on the ground.
The governor argued that ODM’s strength in Kajiado was built by local leaders and supporters who remained loyal to the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
“We want the ODM leadership to apologise for campaigning for politicians who are not party members,” he said.
His threat comes as political alliances in Kajiado continue to shift. Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s Democracy for Citizens Party has recently attracted several leaders from both ODM and UDA. Ten Kajiado leaders were announced as new DCP members earlier this month.
Lenku drew a comparison with those defections.
“The same way UDA MCAs went to DCP, we will also leave to Linda Mwananchi,” he said.
The warning comes at a particularly unsettled moment for ODM. The party has faced internal divisions following the removal of Edwin Sifuna as secretary-general and the emergence of the Linda Mwananchi movement, which Sifuna has helped lead. The movement has been holding rallies in several parts of the country, including Kajiado earlier this year.
Lenku is also approaching the end of his second and final term as Kajiado governor. He has said he intends to seek the county’s Senate seat in the 2027 elections, while his deputy, Martin Moshisho, is seeking the ODM ticket to succeed him as governor.
That succession contest adds another layer to the dispute. Lenku has made clear that he wants the party to support his preferred political direction in Kajiado, while rival formations are seeking to build their own grassroots networks.
For now, Lenku has not formally left ODM. His remarks amount to a warning that continued disagreement with the party leadership could trigger a wider political realignment in Kajiado.
The question is whether ODM can contain the dispute before the 2027 campaign gathers further momentum.
About the Author
