Winnie Odinga has declared that she will contest Nairobi’s Senate seat in 2027, putting her ambitions before the public at the first anniversary commemoration of her father, Raila Odinga.

The East African Legislative Assembly member made the announcement in Bondo on 15 October. She referred to incumbent Senator Edwin Sifuna’s pursuit of higher office and urged other young people to seek elected positions.

Lang’ata MP Felix Odiwuor, known as Jalang’o, subsequently welcomed her entry, saying it would make the race more competitive. He is also seeking the seat and said he would support the successful ODM nominee if he lost the nomination.

Kisii Governor Simba Arati, an ODM deputy leader, promised a competitive and fair nomination process, including for Nairobi’s Senate seat.

A declaration of interest is not a party nomination. Winnie’s announcement did not settle which ticket she would use, and Arati’s assurance does not establish that a candidate has been selected.

The next consequential decisions will concern party membership, nomination rules and the field of candidates seeking each ticket.

Photo details
Winnie Odinga in a 2022 file portrait. Kazimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Resized with neutral side margins. Not the October 2026 announcement.
Kazimedia / Wikimedia Commons

WHAT TO WATCH NEXT

  • The party nomination process for the Nairobi Senate ticket.
  • Formal candidature announcements and eligibility decisions.