Lang’ata Member of Parliament Phelix Odiwuor, popularly known as Jalang’o, has officially declared that he will seek the Nairobi Senatorial seat in the 2027 General Election, signalling a major shift in the city’s political landscape and opening the door for an intense contest to succeed him in Lang’ata.
Speaking on Tuesday, February 10, Jalang’o said his decision to run for the Senate seat was a personal and independent political choice, insisting that he is not acting under pressure or influence from any individual or political grouping.
“I always make my own decisions and follow them through. I can be the Governor of Nairobi, I can be a Senator for Nairobi, or even the MP for Lang’ata, because I have been on the ground. I have seen, I have listened, and I have spoken to the people. I will go for the Nairobi Senate seat,” Jalang’o said.
The Lang’ata legislator explained that his confidence to pursue a city-wide seat stems from what he described as extensive engagement with Nairobi residents across different neighbourhoods, where he has been listening to their concerns and expectations.
According to the first-term MP, his interactions with the public have convinced him that he has the political capital and grassroots reach required to mount a competitive bid for the influential Senate position.
Jalang’o also confirmed that he will contest the seat on an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party ticket.
“I am an ODM member, that is my party. Whichever coalition ODM will be, that is where I will be,” he stated, affirming his loyalty to the party ahead of what is expected to be a highly competitive election in the capital.
His declaration comes at a politically sensitive moment within ODM, particularly in Nairobi, where internal debates and leadership tensions have increasingly come into the public spotlight.
Jalang’o’s announcement has also immediately reshaped succession politics in Lang’ata Constituency.
Only days before making his Senate ambitions public, the MP was seen in the company of his predecessor, former Lang’ata MP Nixon Korir, and South C Ward Member of County Assembly (MCA) Abass Khalif.
The appearance of the three leaders together quickly triggered speculation about emerging political alliances and succession plans in the constituency.
Shortly after, South C MCA Abass Khalif confirmed that he will be seeking the Lang’ata parliamentary seat in the 2027 General Election.
Khalif’s declaration positions him as one of the early contenders to take over from Jalang’o, should the current MP proceed with his Senate bid.
Lang’ata is considered one of Nairobi’s most politically strategic constituencies, hosting key national institutions and high-profile residential areas, and has historically attracted heavyweight political contests.
With Jalang’o’s departure from the constituency race now appearing likely, political observers expect the contest for the Lang’ata seat to draw several strong candidates, particularly from within ODM and its allied political formations.
At the city level, Jalang’o’s entry into the Nairobi Senate race further complicates an already tense political environment within the ODM party.
The declaration comes at a time when the party’s Secretary General and current Nairobi Senator, Edwin Sifuna, is facing mounting pressure and criticism from senior party figures.
On Friday, February 6, ODM leader Oburu Odinga publicly criticised Sifuna following remarks he made during a television interview on Citizen TV.
Oburu accused the Nairobi Senator of misleading party supporters and contributing to confusion regarding the party’s internal governance and leadership structures.
“When Sifuna questioned the legality of some national officials on the basis that they were elected by the National Governing Council, he overlooked a fundamental fact; he himself was elected Secretary General by the same organ in February 2018 and discharged the functions of that office fully and effectively until February 2022, when the National Delegates Convention subsequently endorsed him,” Oburu said.
“One cannot selectively invalidate the very processes that conferred legitimacy upon oneself,” he added.
Oburu further faulted the Nairobi Senator for what he described as an inability to clearly separate personal political views from official party positions, arguing that such conduct risks creating uncertainty and division among ODM members and supporters.
The unfolding internal tensions have added a new layer of intrigue to the Nairobi Senate race, particularly as Jalang’o prepares to challenge for the seat under the same party banner.
While Jalang’o did not directly comment on the ongoing internal disagreements within ODM, his insistence that he will stand with whichever coalition the party aligns itself with in 2027 appears aimed at projecting unity and loyalty amid growing factional debates.
Political analysts note that Jalang’o’s public profile, strong social media presence and background in media and entertainment could make him a formidable contender in a city-wide race that heavily depends on visibility, messaging and voter mobilisation.
However, the Nairobi Senate contest is expected to be fiercely competitive, with established political figures, party loyalists and emerging urban leaders all positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 polls.
As the political temperature continues to rise in the capital, Jalang’o’s announcement marks one of the earliest major declarations for the Nairobi Senate seat, setting the tone for what is shaping up to be a bruising and closely watched race.
At the same time, Lang’ata residents are now bracing for an equally intense parliamentary contest, with early signals already pointing to a crowded and politically charged battle for control of the constituency in the next election cycle.
