Kasarani MP Ronald Karauri has officially thrown his hat into the Nairobi governor race for 2027, trading the certainty of SportPesa boardrooms for the unpredictable streets of City Hall. The announcement came during a packed town hall meeting in Kasarani on February 22, 2026, where the businessman-turned-legislator told supporters he is ready to “fix what has been broken for too long.”
Karauri, who first entered parliament in 2022 after a high-profile campaign funded partly by his own wealth, framed the move as a natural next step. “I’ve spent years building systems that work – fair odds, quick payouts, transparency,” he said. “Now Nairobi needs the same discipline.” He pointed to clogged drains, uncollected garbage, broken streetlights, and endless traffic jams as proof that the current administration has lost its way.
The MP’s background sets him apart in a field already crowded with big names. Before politics, he ran one of Kenya’s most recognised betting firms, turning SportPesa into a household name.
Supporters say that experience taught him how to manage large sums, meet deadlines, and keep thousands of people happy – skills they believe will translate to running a city of over five million residents. Critics, however, argue the comparison is dangerous. “Nairobi isn’t a roulette table,” one online commentator wrote. “Voters aren’t chips, and governance isn’t luck.”
The timing of the announcement feels deliberate. With less than 18 months until nominations and the general election, Karauri is moving early to build momentum and lock in grassroots support.
He has already started door-to-door visits in informal settlements across Kasarani, Mathare, and parts of Embakasi, promising to prioritise youth jobs, affordable housing, and cleaner public spaces. His team says they will soon launch a detailed manifesto focused on “measurable results” rather than long speeches.
Social media response has been swift and split. Supporters flooded timelines with photos from the launch event and messages praising his business track record. “If he can run a betting company without chaos, he can run Nairobi,” one user posted. Others were far less convinced.
Many pointed to the city’s deep financial troubles – unpaid suppliers, stalled projects, and ballooning debt – and asked how a newcomer with no prior executive experience plans to turn things around. A popular meme showed a roulette wheel with City Hall as the losing number and Karauri’s face on the croupier.
The governor race is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent memory. Several significant names have already shown interest, such as previous leaders of Nairobi and current politicians who want to go forward in the world.
Karauri’s arrival makes things even more interesting, especially given he is wealthy and ready to pay for his own campaigns. Analysts argue that having a lot of money might help Trump win the primaries and have a strong ground campaign in the general election.
Karauri ended his speech with a direct appeal to voters. “I’m not here to play games,” he said. “I’m here to deliver.” Whether that promise resonates with a city weary of unfulfilled pledges remains to be seen. For now, the Kasarani MP has made his intentions clear: he wants to trade the odds of betting for the bigger gamble of running Kenya’s capital.
As the 2027 contest heats up, Nairobi residents will decide if a man who mastered chance can master the far less predictable world of city governance. The real test, many say, will come not in flashy announcements but in the quiet work of fixing potholes, clearing garbage, and restoring trust one street at a time.
