- Nominated senator Crystal Asige announced her intention to contest the Nairobi Senate seat in the 2027 General Election
- Asige made the declaration at an Embakasi church during a Linda Mwananchi event on Sunday, October 18, 2026
- Her announcement puts her in direct competition with ODM colleagues Jalang'o and Winnie Odinga, who have also shown interest in the seat
Nancy Odindo is a current affairs writer at Tuko.co.ke (joined in 2023). She has one year of experience in print and more than five years in digital media.
Nominated senator Crystal Asige formally declared her candidacy for the Nairobi Senate seat in the 2027 General Election on Sunday, October 18, 2026, signaling a potential departure from her current role as an ODM-nominated legislator.
Source: Twitter
Asige made the announcement before an audience at an Embakasi church during a Linda Mwananchi event, where she appealed directly to residents for their electoral support.
Speaking in fluent Swahili, she told the gathering, "Kama sifuna anavuna na kama Babu ni kwa sababu basi jueni kuwa Asige anasija kama senator wa Nairobi 2027."
Search option is now available at TUKO! Feel free to search the content on topics/people you enjoy reading about in the top right corner ;)
Asige framed her appeal around her legislative track record, urging attendees to relay her achievements to those already serving in the Senate.
"Kama ni track record Sifuna tafadhali waambie kule Senate rekodi yangu iko vipi, Babu waambie mimi ni nani tafadhali," she appealed.
Asige's legislative record
Asige, who was nominated to the 13th Parliament's 4th Senate to represent persons with disabilities and special interest groups, cited her output as a first-term legislator as grounds for seeking an elected mandate.
According to the National Assembly, Asige has five bills tabled in her name, including two focused on protecting young entrepreneurs and special needs schools in Kenya, and has been recognised as a top-performing senator for two consecutive years.
"Kwa hivyo tafadhali, nawaomba nafasi kuendelea na hii kazi kuwahudumia na kuwalinda wananchi mkinipa kura zenu, imagine how much more I will do for you hapa Embakasi kama senator wako wa Nairobi," she said.
Beyond Parliament, Asige is a 2024 TIME 100 Next honoree, a Harvard Law School Fellow, and a Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs Enterprise for Peace Scholar.
She is also an award-winning musician whose Chakacha-infused recordings carry themes of disability rights and social inclusion, a practice she describes as "art-ivism."
Crowded race for Nairobi Senate
Her declaration places her in an increasingly competitive field within ODM itself. Lang'ata MP Felix Odiwuor, widely known as Jalang'o, previously expressed interest in the same position, as has EALA MP Winnie Odinga, daughter of former prime minister Raila Odinga.
The emergence of multiple ODM-affiliated candidates for the same seat is likely to intensify internal party discussions ahead of the 2027 polls.
Asige's move from a nominated seat to a contested elective position also marks a significant strategic shift.
Nominated senators are appointed through party lists rather than direct popular vote, meaning a successful 2027 bid would require Asige to build a grassroots campaign across Nairobi's constituencies, including Embakasi, where she made Sunday's announcement.
As Secretary General of the Kenya Disabled Parliamentarians Association and Chairperson for Persons with Disabilities in the Kenya Women Parliamentary Association, Asige has built a profile centred on disability rights and inclusive legislation.
Her campaign is expected to draw heavily on that record as she seeks to convert advocacy recognition into an electoral mandate.
Source: TUKO.co.ke