ODM leader Raila Odinga openly acknowledged on Wednesday that Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi would have been the more suitable candidate for the Nairobi gubernatorial seat.

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Speaking in Westlands, Raila Odinga expressed regret for his role in urging Tim Wanyonyi to step down from the Nairobi governor race, emphasizing that Wanyonyi was indeed a capable candidate. Raila disclosed that despite efforts to make Wanyonyi a running mate, he opted to return to Westlands.

"I regret it myself, I was told to tell Tim to step down. Tim was good enough and he accepted it. We wanted him to be a running mate, but he refused. He said that instead, he was going back to Westlands,” Raila stated.

Back on April 22, 2022, Azimio la Umoja Coalition had unveiled Polycarp Igathe (Jubilee party) as its gubernatorial candidate with Philip Kaloki (Wiper) as his running mate. Raila mentioned that Wanyonyi had initially expressed interest in the governorship but chose to withdraw and contest his seat as a National Assembly member for Westlands.

Tim Wanyonyi explained on May 1, 2022, that he agreed not to pursue the top county seat due to the coalition agreement. According to the pact, ODM would take the presidential bid, and Jubilee Party, led by former President Uhuru Kenyatta, would represent the coalition in the Nairobi governor contest.

However, despite the arrangement, the Jubilee duo of Igathe and Kaloki lost to Kenya Kwanza's Johnson Sakaja and Njoroge Muchiri.

In September 2023, Wanyonyi expressed confidence in his ability to secure the Nairobi Governor seat in the 2027 general election. While speaking in Kakamega, he attributed his earlier withdrawal to internal conflicts and coalition agreements within the Azimio coalition, expressing determination to contest and win the position in the upcoming polls on August 9, 2027.