Speaking on a local television morning show on Monday, September 14, 2026, Oundo said Jacaranda held significant political symbolism because it was one of the venues frequently used by Raila for major political gatherings in Nairobi.
“We brought the spirit of Baba Raila Amollo Odinga to his home turf of Nairobi. We wanted to tell the people of Kenya that we have inherited the spirit and the numbers of Baba Raila Amollo Odinga,” Oundo said.
The Funyula MP said the decision to hold the rally at Jacaranda was part of a broader strategy by Linda Mwananchi and its allies to establish themselves as a major opposition force ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Oundo said Jacaranda had particular political significance because Raila historically used the venue, alongside a field in Kibra, to mobilise his supporters.
“It was significant for us to go to Jacaranda because whenever Baba wanted to do anything, the only two places he would go to: Jacaranda or the field in Kibra,” he said.
He said the movement wanted to reconnect with Nairobi residents and gauge the reception to its political message in an area that was previously regarded as an ODM stronghold.
“For us, we chose to start in Jacaranda, to lay our claim on Nairobi,” Oundo said.
Oundo declares ODM influence in Nairobi diminished
Oundo argued that Nairobi’s political landscape had changed significantly since Raila’s death, creating room for other opposition formations to compete for influence.
He claimed ODM had lost the political dominance it previously enjoyed in Nairobi and could no longer depend on the support associated with Raila’s leadership.
“ODM used to have a significant presence in Nairobi County, and therefore we came to reclaim our share,” he said.
“We of course, everybody knows that ODM’s stronghold on Nairobi City is gone.”
Oundo went further to criticise the party’s current leadership, arguing that it had failed to preserve Raila’s political influence in the capital.
“The Nairobi ODM is dead in Nairobi,” he said.
His remarks come amid an intensifying contest for Nairobi’s opposition vote as political parties and emerging formations seek to consolidate support ahead of the 2027 presidential and parliamentary elections.
The capital remains a crucial political battleground because of its large electorate and its influence on national political narratives. The Linda Mwananchi movement’s decision to stage its rally at Jacaranda therefore signals an attempt to establish a visible presence in a space historically associated with Raila and the opposition.
