Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja is facing what political analysts are describing as a growing rebellion from within his own ranks after a key member of the Nairobi City County Public Service Board (CPSB) was openly linked to political activities associated with his rivals.
The latest development has exposed what insiders say is a widening crack within the Governor’s support network, raising questions about his ability to keep together the political machinery that propelled him to power in 2022.
At the centre of the unfolding drama is Jack B. Owino, a member of the County Public Service Board and one of the influential figures within the institution responsible for managing human resources, recruitment and disciplinary matters in Nairobi County.
Owino is said to have declared his political ambitions within the Linda Mwananchi faction and is expected to resign from the County Public Service Board as he prepares to enter elective politics.
The CPSB member is reportedly eyeing the Karachuonyo parliamentary seat currently held by ODM MP Andrew Adipo Okwemo. Political sources indicate that with the race for the ODM ticket expected to be highly competitive, Owino has increasingly aligned himself with the Linda Mwananchi movement associated with Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna.
The faction is understood to be exploring possible cooperation with leaders allied to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, his Democratic Citizens Party (DCP) and the broader United Opposition movement as political realignments ahead of the 2027 General Election gather momentum.
Owino, who chairs the board’s Finance and Budgeting Committee and sits on the Human Resource Planning and Governance committees, was recently spotted at a meeting chaired by Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, a politician widely seen as one of the leading contenders for the Nairobi governorship in 2027.
The appearance has triggered intense political speculation, with sources claiming that Owino has become one of the key resource mobilisers for the Linda Mwananchi movement, a faction associated with Sifuna and leaders aligned to the opposition.
For Sakaja, the development is being viewed not merely as a political defection but as a betrayal from within.
Unlike ordinary supporters, members of the County Public Service Board occupy strategic positions in the county administration and are expected to work closely with the government in ensuring the smooth functioning of county operations.
The perception that senior figures within such institutions are increasingly gravitating towards rival political camps is likely to raise concerns within Sakaja’s inner circle.
Political observers argue that the incident points to a larger problem facing the Governor: the gradual loss of trusted lieutenants to his opponents.
“What we are witnessing is the beginning of a battle for Nairobi long before the official campaign period begins,” said one political analyst familiar with Nairobi politics.
“When people who were expected to be neutral or supportive of the administration start appearing in rival political meetings, it sends a signal that power centres are shifting.”
The situation becomes even more significant given the strategic role played by the Public Service Board in county governance.
While board members are expected to operate independently and professionally, their political alignments often attract public scrutiny because of the influence they wield within county structures.
Sources within Nairobi politics claim that Owino is not the only senior county figure whose loyalties have come under question.
Attention has also turned to CPSB Chairman Thomas Mweu Kasoa, who is said to enjoy close political relations with leaders associated with Kalonzo Musyoka.
The emerging alliances have fuelled claims that key figures within institutions that should ordinarily be working alongside the county administration are increasingly finding common cause with Sakaja’s political competitors.
The developments come at a time when the race for Nairobi’s top seat is already taking shape, with Babu Owino, Senator Sifuna and other opposition figures steadily building networks across the capital.
For Sakaja, the challenge may not only be the strength of his opponents but also the growing perception that some of his own soldiers are quietly crossing over to the other side.
If the trend continues, political analysts warn, the Governor could find himself entering the 2027 succession battle with a weakened support structure and facing opponents who are steadily recruiting experienced insiders familiar with the workings of City Hall.
Whether the latest developments amount to isolated political associations or signal a broader realignment within Nairobi’s power circles remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that the battle for control of the capital has begun much earlier than many anticipated, and the fight is increasingly being waged from within Sakaja’s own backyard.
