- ODM deputy party leader Simba Arati has endorsed KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atellah for the Lang’ata parliamentary seat
- Arati said Atellah had personally asked for his support after praising the governor’s work, prompting him to back the union leader’s ambition
- Atellah declared his intention to prioritise education, healthcare, youth empowerment and economic opportunities if elected to parliament
KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atellah has received a political boost after ODM deputy party leader and Kisii Governor Simba Arati declared his support for his bid to become the next Member of Parliament for Lang’ata constituency in the 2027 General Election.
Source: Facebook
Arati made the announcement while addressing a group of health practitioners, revealing that Atellah had personally approached him to seek his backing for the parliamentary seat.
The governor said he had decided to support the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) secretary general, expressing confidence that he would win the Lang’ata parliamentary race.
What did Arati say about Davji Atellah's Lang'ata bid?
"I was with your secretary general Davji. He was thanking me, saying, 'Governor, you have done a good job. And because you've done a good job, support me to clinch the Lang’ata seat.' And I have decided I am going to support him, and he is going to be the MP for Lang’ata," Arati said.
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The endorsement gives Atellah a significant show of support from a senior ODM figure as he positions himself for a possible transition from trade union leadership to elective politics.
Atellah has become a prominent figure in Kenya's health sector through his leadership of KMPDU, which represents medical practitioners and has consistently engaged the government over doctors' working conditions, remuneration, staffing shortages and the implementation of collective bargaining agreements.
His union role has placed him at the centre of conversations about the challenges facing public healthcare facilities, including doctors' welfare and the broader need to improve service delivery.
When did Atellah declare bid for Lang'ata MP?
Atellah formally declared his intention to contest the Lang’ata seat in September 2026, saying he would prioritise education, healthcare and economic empowerment if elected. He has also identified youth empowerment and support for informal-sector workers as key areas in his proposed development agenda.
The race is taking shape following incumbent MP Phelix Odiwuor, popularly known as Jalang’o, announcing plans to pursue the Nairobi Senate seat instead of defending his parliamentary position in 2027.
However, Arati's endorsement does not in itself guarantee the party’s ticket or victory at the ballot, with the nomination process and eventual election still ahead.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
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