Embakasi North Member of Parliament James Gakuya has vowed to contest the 2027 Nairobi gubernatorial race as an independent candidate if he fails to secure the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) ticket, signalling a potential challenge to opposition efforts to unite behind a single candidate.
Gakuya, who is seeking to succeed Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, has insisted that he will not abandon his gubernatorial ambitions to accommodate other aspirants, placing pressure on DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua as opposition parties negotiate political alliances ahead of the August 2027 General Election.
Speaking during an interview with a local television station on Thursday, October 22, 2026, Gakuya said the decision on the party’s candidate rests with Gachagua but maintained that he would proceed to the ballot even if denied the nomination.
“I did not give the party leader, Rigathi Gachagua, any conditions. He is free to decide whatever he wants. Personally, I am the one who has said that I cannot abandon my bid for the governorship,” Gakuya said.
“If I am denied the opportunity, I will pursue it even if that means becoming an independent candidate. I cannot force the party to give me the ticket, but I have said that, given how far I have come politically, I cannot go backwards. I must move forward and proceed to the ballot,” he added.
The Embakasi North MP also called for coalition negotiations to allow aspirants for county positions to compete independently rather than have their ambitions determined by broader political agreements.
“When people talk about coalitions, they should discuss the top seats but leave the lower seats for the candidates to compete for themselves,” he said.
His position could complicate DCP’s efforts to coordinate its Nairobi campaign if the party opts to support another candidate or enters into an arrangement with other opposition formations.
An independent bid would allow Gakuya to pursue the governor’s seat outside the party’s nomination process, potentially setting up a contest against candidates backed by rival political parties.
Gakuya’s declaration comes amid growing competition from Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, who is also seeking to unseat Sakaja in the 2027 elections.
Owino has positioned The Mwananchi Party as his political vehicle for the race, arguing that his experience in managing a constituency demonstrates his capacity to lead Kenya’s capital.
“So long as you can be given the responsibility of managing a constituency and you do it well, then it’s only fair that you can manage a county also fairly well,” Owino said.
The Embakasi East MP has made service delivery a central pillar of his campaign, promising to prioritise roads, water, healthcare, employment and an improved business environment.
“Nairobi people are just looking for service,” he said.
Owino has also emphasised the importance of securing support in the Nairobi County Assembly, arguing that a governor needs a strong working relationship with MCAs to implement policies and overcome political challenges.
Besides Gakuya and Owino, the race is expected to attract Sakaja, who is seeking another term, and businesswoman Agnes Kagure, among other potential contenders.
The competing ambitions of Gakuya and Owino could test opposition efforts to agree on candidates capable of mounting a coordinated challenge in Nairobi.
While political alliances could help parties consolidate support, disagreements over nominations and the distribution of elective positions risk creating divisions among aspirants seeking the same seat.
Gakuya’s position signals that he is unwilling to surrender his gubernatorial ambitions as part of a coalition arrangement, leaving DCP with the challenge of balancing internal interests against wider opposition unity.
With the 2027 General Election approaching, the party’s nomination decisions and the outcome of ongoing coalition negotiations could shape the Nairobi governor contest, which is already emerging as one of the key political battles in the capital.
