By Nyanza Wire 
Rigathi Gachagua’s DCP has declared it will not support any other candidate for the Nairobi gubernatorial race in 2027, insisting it is time for a Kikuyu governor to lead the capital city.
In a move that could fracture opposition unity, the party on Wednesday unveiled Embakasi North MP James Gakuya as its preferred candidate for the seat during a closed-door meeting in Nairobi.
The announcement puts the DCP on a collision course with the ODM Linda Mwananchi faction, whose candidate, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, has already declared his bid for the governorship.
Ethnic Considerations
DCP officials made clear their opposition to Owino’s candidacy, arguing that the legislator, being a Luo, would not adequately represent the interests of the Kikuyu community in the city.
“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 during the meeting.
The party echoed sentiments that previous governors had failed to represent Kikuyu interests in the capital, where the community forms a significant portion of the population.
Opposition Unity at Risk
The declaration complicates efforts to build a united opposition front ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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 direct competition with Babu Owino now threatens that potential alliance.
Babu Owino, a vocal ODM legislator known for his fiery rhetoric, has positioned himself as a reformist candidate under the Linda Mwananchi banner. He has promised to transform Nairobi’s governance and service delivery, capitalizing on what he describes as Governor Johnson Sakaja’s failures. Political analysts consider him among the front-runners for the seat.
Nairobi’s Gubernatorial History
Since devolution began in 2013, Nairobi has had three governors. Dr. Evans Kidero (2013-2017), Mike Sonko (2017-2020), and the incumbent Johnson Sakaja, who took office in 2022.
The city, Kenya’s economic and political hub, has faced persistent challenges including traffic congestion, inadequate housing, poor waste management, and strained public services, issues that have dominated every gubernatorial campaign.
The 2027 race is shaping up to be highly competitive, with the DCP’s ethnic-based campaign strategy likely to spark debate about identity politics in Kenya’s cosmopolitan capital.