JALANG'O EYES SIFUNA'S SENATORIAL SEAT

Lang’ata Member of Parliament Felix Odiwuor, popularly known as Jalang’o, has formally declared his intention to vie for the Nairobi senatorial seat in the 2027 General Election, setting the stage for a possible contest with incumbent Senator and ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna.

Speaking during a radio interview on Tuesday, Jalang’o said his decision was driven by confidence in his leadership record and his long engagement with residents across the capital. He maintained that his political ambitions are self-determined and not influenced by external forces.

“I always make my own decisions and follow them through. I can be the Governor of Nairobi, I can be a Senator for Nairobi, or even the MP for Lang’ata, because I have been on the ground. I have seen, I have listened, and I have spoken to the people. I will go for the Nairobi Senate seat,” said Jalang’o.

The legislator argued that his experience overseeing development and public resources in Lang’ata equips him to take on the Senate’s oversight role at the county level. He cited issues such as infrastructure, sanitation, water supply, security and healthcare as challenges that require stronger scrutiny of county spending.

“The work of an MP is oversight and management of public resources. I told myself that if we have delivered good results in Lang’ata, we can transform Nairobi as a whole by properly supervising county funds,” he said.

Jalang’o also pushed back against suggestions that his bid is part of a wider political project linked to President William Ruto. His remarks come amid reports of consultations involving Lands Principal Secretary Nixon Korir, who recently brought together the MP and South C Ward MCA Abass Khalif, a former rival in Lang’ata politics.

“I was not sent by President Ruto to run for Nairobi Senate; this is my decision. Politics is not planned by anyone else. When you know the seat you want, no one tells you to pursue it,” Jalang’o said, adding that the Korir-led discussions centred on development projects in Langata.

The media personality turned politician further reaffirmed his loyalty to the Orange Democratic Movement, stating that his senatorial bid would be anchored on the party’s ticket and guided by its coalition choices ahead of the 2027 polls.
“I am an ODM member, that is my party. Whichever coalition ODM will be, that is where I will be,” Jalang’o added.

The meeting has since attracted political attention, with some observers linking it to early succession manoeuvres in Lang’ata. South C Ward MCA Abass Khalif has declared his intention to vie for the Lang’ata parliamentary seat in the next General Election, a move that could open the constituency to new leadership should Jalang’o proceed with his Senate bid.

The MP also addressed the broader debate within ODM over coalition politics and engagement with the Kenya Kwanza administration, saying alliances would play a decisive role in the upcoming polls.

“There are many coalitions; whichever coalition includes ODM, that’s the one I will be in,” he said, adding that if Sifuna decides to seek re-election under ODM, the party’s nomination process would determine the flag bearer.

Sifuna has remained one of the most vocal critics of the incumbent administration, even as ODM participates in the broad-based political arrangement. He has in recent months been widely visible in national political debates and party affairs, a posture that supporters view as proactive leadership in his role as ODM Secretary General, but which critics argue has come at the expense of sustained focus on his oversight responsibilities as Nairobi Senator.

By contrast, Jalang’o has adopted a more conciliatory approach toward President William Ruto’s administration, arguing that cooperation with the national government is necessary to advance development projects in Lang’ata. His stance has drawn mixed reactions within opposition circles, with some viewing it as a pragmatic strategy for constituency development, while others interpret it as a departure from the confrontational posture ODM held while in opposition when he first entered Parliament.

As political temperatures rise ahead of 2027, Jalang’o’s entry into the Nairobi senatorial race adds a new layer to the capital’s evolving political landscape, with implications for both county oversight and succession politics in Lang’ata.