By Anderson Ojwang
For the first time, Nairobi breathed after the departure of the general, the late Raila Amolo Odinga.
The mood was ecstatic, and the crowd was beaming with hope of a new dawn.
Jacaranda ground lived up to its tradition, buzzing as it welcomed and accepted all shades of walk, and the music sublimed the audience.
Sweet memories of the late Raila Odinga were revived, and the fondness and joy of his rallies returned once after eleven months of his absence.
The new kids on the block were born, rocked and carried the day, reviving the old Nairobi.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, who will lead Linda Mwananchi’s presidential pursuit, and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, who will fly the outfit for the Nairobi gubernatorial seat, woke the sleepy city in the sun.
Nairobi accepted the new kids on the block, and indeed they passed the red line to be the new generals of the city politics.
From the heart of Kenya’s constitutional moment, the All Saints Cathedral, Linda Mwananchi gathered for the morning prayers.
The excitement within the congregants was palpable and, indeed, a new wind was blowing directly from the sanctuary to Jacaranda grounds.
Nairobi oozed and organically breathed a sigh of relief after several months of dullness, confusion and inactivity.
The departure of the king and the general, the former Prime Minister, the late Raila Odinga, left a vacuum.
A vacuum that for the last eleven months has been beckoning for a new sheriff and new players to occupy and assume the throne.
Declaration
Finally, Linda Mwananchi made a bold political declaration at the Jacaranda ground of presenting a presidential candidate in the 2027 General Election.
The fallout in the ODM was precipitated by one wing, Linda Mwananchi, advancing the party to present a presidential candidate, while the Linda Ground supported President William Ruto’s re-election and pre-election coalition agreement with UDA.
Suba South MP Caroli Omondi lit the crowd with his pronouncements that marked the climax of the rally as he read out the declaration.
‘We have now agreed that Babu Owino shall be the governor of Nairobi and the second question as Linda Mwananchi we have agreed that Edwin Watenya Sifuna will be our presidential candidate.
We have agreed going forth that all ODM seats in Nairobi, the eight legislators and the 36 MCAs seat will now belong to Linda Mwananchi.
We have also agreed to be in one political party. Those are the Jacaranda declaration,’ he read.
Sifuna said political feedback he had received during his countrywide tours pointed to a growing support for his presidential ambitions.
The Senator told residents that people from different parts of the country had been urging him to take up a bigger political role, in what appeared to be a fresh signal of his intention to seek the presidency.
“I want to tell Nairobi, other parts of the country want to give me another job. Do you know the job they want me to take?” Sifuna asked. “People in other parts want to take me to a certain job. Do you also want me to take that job?” he said.
Sifuna thanked Nairobi residents for electing him to the Senate, saying the position had provided him with a platform to build a national political profile.
“Because you elected me as Senator, I am now known across the country. I thank you for that opportunity you gave me,” he said.
Babu, speaking at the rally, urged the residents to support his gubernatorial bid, saying he has what it takes to make Nairobi work again.
He used the rally to pitch his plans for Nairobi, saying he would seek to address the city’s longstanding challenges if elected governor in 2027.
Siaya Governor James Orengo said they had put Ruto on notice and that he would be defeated at the elections.
“On August 10, 2027, Kenya takes its power back. William Ruto, your era of state capture and forced abductions ends at the ballot box, constitutionalism and rule of law return,” he said.
Babu said the unity of the opposition was important to defeating President Ruto at the elections.
“We continue to call for unity within the opposition. If we are to defeat this regime in 2027, we must put our differences aside and rally behind ONE Presidential candidate who can unite Kenyans and deliver victory at the ballot.
Today, the people of Jacaranda, Embakasi East, came out in their numbers to make their voices heard.
The message is clear: Unity is our strength. Victory is possible. Kenya First,”he wrote.
