NAIROBI, October 15, 2026 — East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) Member of Parliament Winnie Odinga has declared her intention to contest the Nairobi County Senate seat in the 2027 General Election, bringing her political ambitions into sharp focus as Kenya’s political landscape begins to take shape ahead of the next polls.

Winnie made the announcement on Thursday, October 15, during the first anniversary commemoration of her late father, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, at Migwena Cultural and Sports Grounds in Bondo, Siaya County.

Addressing mourners and political leaders gathered to honour her father’s legacy, the EALA legislator openly linked her decision to the political direction of incumbent Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, who has been associated with ambitions for higher political office.

“Let it not be a rumour that as Edwin Sifuna searches for higher offices, I see kuna nafasi hapo Nairobi. That is why I have decided that I will stand for the position of Senator of Nairobi County,” Winnie said.

Her declaration introduces a prominent new contender into the contest for one of Kenya’s most politically significant county Senate seats and signals her intention to move from regional parliamentary representation to directly elected national office.

Winnie Turns Attention to Nairobi

Winnie’s announcement was notable for its timing and the direct reference to Sifuna, who currently represents Nairobi in the Senate.

By publicly declaring her interest while addressing a gathering attended by political leaders and supporters, she effectively ended speculation about the elective position she intends to pursue in 2027.

The statement also placed the Nairobi Senate race within the wider political conversations surrounding succession, party loyalties and the future direction of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) following Raila Odinga’s death in October 2025.


Winnie did not merely announce her ambition. She presented it as an opportunity to bring more young people into leadership, suggesting that her political project would extend beyond an individual campaign.

“Lakini siendi peke yangu. I am going with young people,” she told the gathering.

She urged young Kenyans to prepare to contest elective positions across the country, including governorships, Senate seats, parliamentary constituencies and county assembly wards.

“I want young people across this country to prepare to stand. You stand for governor, you stand for Senate, MCA, MP, because siendi peke yangu,” she said.

The message could become a defining element of her political pitch as she seeks to establish a broader constituency beyond the recognition associated with the Odinga family name.

Sifuna's Political Future in Focus

Winnie’s declaration places Sifuna’s political future under renewed scrutiny.

The incumbent senator secured the Nairobi seat in the 2022 General Election on an ODM ticket and has remained a prominent figure in the party’s national politics.

Her remarks suggest that she sees an opening in Nairobi if Sifuna decides to pursue a different elective position. However, the declaration does not itself establish that he has vacated the seat or withdrawn from seeking re-election.

The emerging contest is therefore likely to depend on the political decisions made by the incumbent, the positions taken by ODM and the choices of other aspirants seeking to represent Nairobi in the Senate.

Winnie’s entry also raises questions about the party nomination process, particularly if multiple aspirants seek the ODM ticket.

Kisii Governor and ODM Deputy Party Leader Simba Arati has pledged that the party will conduct free and fair nominations ahead of the 2027 elections. Speaking at the Bondo commemoration, Arati specifically referred to the Nairobi Senate contest and said all aspirants would have an opportunity to compete for the party ticket.

The assurance comes as the party prepares for a potentially demanding nomination season, in which competing ambitions could test its ability to manage internal differences while maintaining unity. 

A Call for Youth Participation

Beyond the immediate contest for Nairobi, Winnie used the occasion to make a wider appeal for greater participation by young people in Kenya’s political process.

Her remarks come amid persistent public debate about unemployment, the cost of living, economic opportunities and the ability of elected leaders to respond to the needs of younger generations.

By encouraging young people to contest positions at different levels of government, she framed political participation as a collective undertaking rather than a campaign built around one candidate.

The approach could help her appeal to voters who want greater representation in decision-making, although the strength of that appeal will ultimately depend on the policies, alliances and campaign structures she develops.

For Nairobi, youth participation is a particularly important issue. The capital has a large population of young residents whose concerns include employment, affordable housing, transport, access to public services and opportunities for small businesses.

Winnie’s challenge will be to translate her call for participation into a clear political programme that addresses these concerns and demonstrates how her proposed representation would differ from that of other candidates.

A campaign centred on youth inclusion would also require her to show how young people would participate meaningfully in policy development, public oversight and engagement with county institutions, rather than simply serving as campaign supporters.

The Role of Nairobi Senator

The Nairobi Senate seat carries responsibilities that extend beyond representing the capital’s political interests in national debates.

Under Kenya’s constitutional framework, the Senate represents counties, participates in legislation concerning counties and determines the allocation of nationally raised revenue among county governments. It also exercises oversight over national revenue allocated to county governments.

For Nairobi residents, the senator’s role is therefore closely connected to questions of county financing, accountability and the protection of the city’s interests within the national legislative process.

The position does not directly administer county services in the way the governor’s office does. Instead, it provides a platform for legislative representation, scrutiny of county-related expenditure and participation in decisions affecting devolution.

Any serious campaign for the seat will consequently need to address how the candidate intends to strengthen accountability, protect Nairobi’s financial interests and ensure that the county’s needs receive adequate attention in national decision-making.

Winnie’s announcement has established her electoral destination, but the detailed agenda she intends to pursue in the Senate will be an important part of the campaign ahead.