Nairobi ODM Chairperson aspirant Tim Wanyonyi, who also serves as the Westlands MP, convened delegates from Kitisuru and Karura wards ahead of the upcoming grassroots ODM elections set for April 7th and April 9th.
Addressing the delegates, Wanyonyi emphasized the need for party loyalty, discipline, and structured leadership to prevent betrayal and ensure ODM’s dominance in Nairobi politics.
Wanyonyi stressed the importance of having steadfast party delegates who will not succumb to external influence.
He accused some ODM members of working against the party’s interests by soliciting money from competitors to disrupt internal processes.
He reminded the delegates that ODM has often been infiltrated by opportunists who undermine the party from within and that it is time for true party loyalists to take control.
He recalled his 2022 gubernatorial bid, where he was pressured to step down in favor of a political newcomer under the guise of a coalition agreement.
He dismissed the proposal as an insult, saying he could not go back to his supporters and ask them to accept a lesser position after he had already declared his candidacy for governor.
Instead, he chose to continue serving the people of Westlands.
In Kitisuru, Wanyonyi reiterated that he was determined to vie for the Nairobi ODM Chairperson seat to strengthen the party’s grassroots support.
He criticized past coalition agreements, arguing that they had weakened ODM in Nairobi by allowing other parties to claim positions that should have gone to loyal ODM members.
He warned against favoritism in party nominations, stating that ODM must prioritize those who have stood with the party through the years.
According to Wanyonyi, ODM has a tendency to betray its most loyal members during election time by giving nomination slots to newcomers, a practice that he vowed to end.
The MP also highlighted the party’s strong support base in Westlands, where he noted that ODM consistently delivers votes for Raila Odinga, the MP seat, and multiple MCA positions.
He urged delegates to be well-prepared for the grassroots elections, which will take place at the ward level on April 7th and at the constituency level on April 10th.
He also emphasized that the upcoming elections will determine the strength of the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
While addressing Karura delegates, Wanyonyi emphasized that grassroots party structures are essential to ODM’s success.
He lamented that Karura Ward had suffered from zoning arrangements that forced ODM to cede ground to other parties, leaving loyal supporters without proper representation.
He expressed his disappointment that ODM had been forced to share elective seats with Jubilee, Narc, and Wiper in the past, a move he said had weakened the party’s influence in Nairobi.
According to him, these upcoming grassroots elections will revitalize ODM and inject new energy into the party.
As part of his engagement with delegates, Wanyonyi provided civic education on ODM’s election processes, explaining voting modalities and the eligibility criteria for mainstream party delegates, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), the Youth League, and the Women’s League.
He cautioned party members to verify their ODM membership status to prevent fraudulent registrations, warning that some rival parties have been known to enroll unsuspecting members using data obtained from different sources.
The three-term legislator, widely regarded as one of ODM’s strongest figures in Nairobi, has been vocal about the need for fairness in party nominations.
In 2022, he was forced to abandon his gubernatorial ambition when ODM, under the influence of former President Uhuru Kenyatta, opted to field Polycarp Igathe instead. The move was met with strong opposition from Wanyonyi’s supporters, who saw it as a betrayal by the party leadership.
Ultimately, Igathe suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of UDA’s Johnson Sakaja, a result that Wanyonyi believes could have been avoided had ODM stuck with a grassroots candidate like himself.
Determined to ensure that history does not repeat itself, Wanyonyi has put the ODM party on notice, warning that all structures must be followed and that no one should receive undue favors in 2027.
His resolve has been further strengthened by speculation that Raila Odinga’s newfound political alliance with Governor Sakaja could pave the way for the governor to join ODM. Should Sakaja decide to seek the party’s gubernatorial ticket, Wanyonyi has made it clear that he is ready to battle it out in the nominations.