21/05/2026
The DCP Party insists that it will not back any candidate for the Nairobi gubernatorial seat in 2027, saying it is time for a Kikuyu governor to lead the capital.
The party has unveiled Embakasi North MP James Gakuya as its preferred candidate for the seat.
Speaking at a closed door meeting in Nairobi on Wednesday, DCP officials said the party would not support Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, who has already declared his bid for the Nairobi governorship under the ODM Linda Mwananchi faction.
The party argues that Owino, being a Luo, would not adequately represent the interests of the Kikuyu community in the city, echoing sentiments that previous governors had also failed to do so.
“Since the inception of devolution, Nairobi has never had a Kikuyu governor. It is time for one of our own to take charge and safeguard the interests of our people,” a DCP official said.
The declaration complicates the opposition’s unity efforts ahead of the 2027 polls.
DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua had earlier signaled a willingness to work with the Linda Mwananchi faction to challenge President William Ruto’s administration.
However, the decision to field a gubernatorial candidate in the same race as Babu Owino now threatens that potential alliance.
Babu Owino, a vocal ODM legislator, has positioned himself as a reformist candidate under the Linda Mwananchi banner, promising to transform Nairobi’s governance and service delivery after Governor Sakaja's failures. He is among the front runners for the seat.
Nairobi’s gubernatorial history has seen a diverse lineup of leaders since devolution began in 2013.
The city’s first governor was Dr. Evans Kidero, followed by Mike Sonko in 2017, and Johnson Sakaja, who currently holds the seat.
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