Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku has threatened to lead a revolt against the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) in the county, accusing party leaders of betraying supporters by allegedly backing a rival candidate in the race to succeed him.
Ole Lenku, who is serving his final term and has declared his interest in the Kajiado Senate seat in the 2027 General Election, said the party risked losing the political ground it has built in the county unless its leadership addressed complaints over the activities of some of its officials.
The governor said his deputy, Martin Moshisho, was seeking to contest the governorship on an ODM ticket and accused unnamed party figures of campaigning for State House Comptroller Katoo Ole Metito, whom he said was not seeking the seat on an ODM ticket.
Speaking in Kajiado on Saturday, Ole Lenku demanded an apology from the ODM leadership and warned that supporters would not accept what he described as attempts to undermine candidates who have remained loyal to the party.
“Mimi ni gavana wa ODM. Na naibu yangu Moshisho anatafuta kiti ya gavana na hiyo chama,” Ole Lenku said.
He said ODM supporters were waiting for acting party leader Oburu Oginga to address the matter and demand an apology from those accused of campaigning for Metito.
“Bado tunasubiri apology kwamba wale walikosea wamesema pole,” he said.
The remarks have laid bare an emerging battle over the succession race in Kajiado, where Ole Lenku's exit after serving two terms has opened up one of the county's most closely watched contests ahead of the 2027 elections.
Ole Lenku has thrown his weight behind Moshisho to succeed him, while Metito, a former Kajiado South MP and Cabinet Secretary, is also expected to be a major player in the race.
The governor accused some politicians in the county of using money to influence ODM politics and weaken the party from within.
“Doctor Oburu kuna walafi Kajiado wanafuatafuata pesa za Katoo kuuza chama cha ODM,” he said.
He warned that ODM could lose its support base in Kajiado if the national leadership continued to ignore the concerns raised by local supporters.
“ODM, ikiendelea kuruhusu walafi wale wakibizana na pesa za Katoo, ODM itafungwa Kajiado,” he said.
“Tuko tayari kufunga, mkiendelea kutusaliti.”
Ole Lenku's threat comes at a difficult time for ODM as the party seeks to maintain its influence in Kajiado amid shifting political alliances ahead of the 2027 elections.
The party, which has traditionally faced stiff competition from parties associated with the Maasai community and national political coalitions, has in recent years expanded its presence in the county under Ole Lenku's leadership.
Ole Lenku joined ODM ahead of the 2022 General Election and successfully defended the governorship on the party's ticket, giving Raila Odinga's party a significant foothold in a county that has historically been a key battleground for control of the Maa vote.
He said ODM had been relatively weak in Kajiado before its recent growth, arguing that local leaders and supporters had invested heavily in building the party's structures.
“Sababu sisi ndio tumeipatia ODM nguvu. Tulipata ODM na MCAs wawili, tulipata ODM hafifu kwa heshima ya Baba Raila Odinga tukaipatia nguvu,” he said.
However, the party's position in Kajiado has come under fresh pressure following a series of defections to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP).
On August 10, Gachagua announced that 10 Kajiado leaders, including serving and former MCAs, had joined DCP as the party intensified efforts to establish a foothold in the county.
Among those who joined DCP were ODM MCAs Isaac Kiresian of Magadi Ward, Joseph Torris of Ewuaso Oonkidongi Ward and Edward Lemomo of Kuku Ward.
Several leaders associated with President William Ruto's United Democratic Alliance (UDA) also moved to DCP, including Ongata Rongai MCA Titus Matheka and Nkaimurunya MCA John Maina Mutiga, while nominated MCA Caroline Ndeti left Jubilee.
Gachagua said the defections had strengthened DCP's presence in Kajiado and declared that the party was moving towards becoming a dominant political force in the county.
The defections have increased pressure on ODM to hold together its support base as rival parties position themselves for the 2027 elections.
For Ole Lenku, the battle is also personal and political.
After completing his second and final term as governor, he has announced plans to seek the Kajiado Senate seat in 2027, while seeking to preserve his political influence through Moshisho's bid to succeed him.
His support for Moshisho is expected to make the ODM nomination a crucial test of strength, particularly if other aspirants seek to challenge the governor's preferred candidate or attract backing from sections of the party's national leadership.
Ole Lenku said Kajiado's political environment had changed and warned leaders against attempting to impose political decisions on residents.
“You are dealing with a new Maa nation,” he said. “Hii Maa nation ni Maa nation mpya ambayo inajua haki yake na ambayo itatetea haki yake.”
