East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP Winnie Odinga has announced that she will run for the Nairobi Senate seat in the 2027 General Election, making the declaration on Thursday, 15 October, at the first anniversary commemoration of the death of her father, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, at Migwena Grounds in Bondo, Siaya County.

Her entry adds one of the most recognisable names in Kenyan politics to a contest that has already drawn several aspirants, among them Lang'ata MP Felix Odiwuor, popularly known as Jalang'o, and musician KRG The Don. The seat is currently held by Edwin Sifuna, who is pursuing the presidency in 2027.

"Let it not be a rumour"

Addressing the crowd in Bondo, Ms Odinga said her political plans were no longer a secret and tied her decision directly to Mr Sifuna's ambitions. According to The Star, she remarked that there was "a visitor here from Nairobi; his name is Sifuna" before declaring that, as the senator searched for higher office, she saw an opening in the capital and would stand for the seat.

Citizen Digital and the Nation reported similar wording, with the EALA legislator saying "let it not be a rumour" that she would contest the Nairobi Senate seat. The Standard reported that Mr Sifuna's presidential bid is being driven through the Linda Mwananchi movement, which has endorsed him as its candidate. He won the Senate seat on an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ticket in 2022.

Ms Odinga placed young people at the centre of her pitch. "I am going with young people," she said, as quoted by several outlets, urging youths across the country to prepare to vie for seats ranging from member of county assembly to governor. The Star reported that she asked the crowd whether they were ready to walk with her, drawing cheers.

The Standard reported that she also used the occasion to explain her absence from public life since her father died in India on 15 October 2025, aged 80. She told mourners she had expected to grieve for about a month before resuming her work, but that grief "does not read the calendar". She challenged leaders who invoke Mr Odinga's name to ask themselves whether they had spent the past year bargaining for positions or improving the lives of ordinary Kenyans.

Jalang'o says he is not backing down

Mr Odiwuor, who is seeking the seat on an ODM ticket, responded by welcoming Ms Odinga into the race while insisting that her bid would not push him out. He said her entry made the contest "even more exciting, competitive and serious", adding that "we are going to the wire" and there would be no giving up, according to The Star and The Eastleigh Voice.

The Lang'ata MP described her decision as a democratic right and said all aspirants should compete for their party's ticket through a free and fair nomination. He pledged to stay in ODM and back whoever wins the party's nomination should he lose, setting up a possible primary contest between the two.

The Star listed other aspirants who have expressed interest in succeeding Mr Sifuna as nominated Senator Crystal Asige, musician William Karuga Kimani, known as KRG The Don, United Opposition youth leader Ken Babu, lawyer Cecil Miller and former Makadara MP Reuben Ndolo.

A family stage for 2027 ambitions

The Bondo commemoration became a platform for political signalling within the Odinga family. The Nation reported that Raila Odinga Junior used the same event to seek support for a bid to represent Kibra in the National Assembly.

The anniversary was also marked by visible divisions between ODM leaders allied to the broad-based government and opposition figures associated with Linda Mwananchi, with the Nation reporting that President William Ruto and former President Uhuru Kenyatta both skipped the event. Ms Odinga's announcement means the ODM nomination for Nairobi senator is likely to be one of the most closely watched primaries in the capital ahead of next year's polls.

Photo: Nation Media Group – Winnie Odinga addresses mourners at Migwena Grounds, Bondo, on 15 October 2026.