Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku has threatened to leave the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and lead his supporters out of the party if its national leadership does not address concerns raised by leaders in the county.
Lenku made the remarks on Saturday, August 22, 2026, accusing some ODM officials of betraying the party's supporters by campaigning for a candidate from the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
The governor said he was unhappy that ODM leaders had recently visited Kajiado and campaigned for State House Comptroller Katoo Ole Metito, who is seeking to become the next governor of Kajiado on a UDA ticket.
Lenku argued that the move was unfair because he is an ODM governor while his deputy, Martin Moshisho, is seeking to succeed him under the ODM ticket.
“I am an ODM governor, and my deputy is seeking to be governor under the same party,” Lenku said, according to reports.
He called on ODM acting party leader Oburu Odinga to intervene and demand an apology from those involved in the campaign for the UDA candidate.
Lenku warned that if the situation continues, ODM could lose its influence in Kajiado.
The governor went further and said the party could be “closed” in Kajiado if its leaders continue what he described as betrayal of the party's supporters.
He also threatened to mobilise the Maasai community to reconsider its relationship with ODM and possibly join other political formations, including the Linda Mwananchi movement.
The remarks come at a time when political competition in Kajiado is becoming more intense ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Lenku is serving his final term as governor and has already indicated that he plans to contest the Kajiado Senate seat in 2027. His deputy, Moshisho, is meanwhile seeking the ODM nomination for governor.
Metito has also declared his intention to contest the governor's position on a UDA ticket.
The growing competition has created tension within the political scene in Kajiado, particularly as ODM and UDA prepare to work together under their broader political arrangement.
Lenku's latest warning could therefore increase pressure on ODM's national leadership to address the concerns coming from its Kajiado branch.
For now, the governor remains in ODM, but his comments have raised questions about whether he and his supporters could eventually move to another political formation if the disagreement is not resolved.
With the 2027 election approaching, Kajiado is expected to remain an important battleground as political parties compete for support across the county.