Entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and former The Apprentice candidate Kayode Damali has announced his candidacy to become the next Mayor of Lewisham, launching an independent campaign powered by social media and focused on community representation, promising a fresh approach to local leadership.
Raised in the borough, Damali says his campaign is rooted in a simple message: Lewisham deserves leadership that reflects the people who live there.
“I’m not a politician. I’m Lewisham. And Lewisham needs a reset”, he says.
Damali is running as an independent candidate, positioning his campaign outside traditional party structures. He believes Lewisham is ready for a new style of leadership that answers directly to residents rather than party politics.
Damali aims to dramatically increase public engagement in the mayoral election. He says he wants the contest to become the most widely discussed local election Lewisham has seen, encouraging more people to pay attention and turn out to vote.
Unlike traditional campaigns built around large scale canvassing, Damali’s campaign is being driven primarily through social media, where he has already generated millions of views discussing the local issues that matter and engaging with Lewisham residents.
His digital-first approach has already led some supporters to nickname him “The TikTok Mayor.”
Kayode first became known to a national audience as a contestant on the BBC’s The Apprentice. He has built a career as an entrepreneur, professional speaker and event host, inspiring young people to pursue opportunities in business and leadership.
Despite his national profile, he has remained deeply involved in local initiatives within Lewisham. He founded Lewisham iCONS, a community platform celebrating local role models and creating opportunities to inspire the next generation.
He is also active in the borough’s running community, serving as Run Director for Catford parkrun and Forster Memorial Park Junior parkrun, helping organise events that bring together families and runners from across the community.
By entering the mayoral race, Damali says he hopes to raise the standard of the election and challenge all candidates to earn the trust of residents. He believes whoever becomes Mayor should have to earn it:
“Lewisham has been run by the same political structures for decades, and on the whole I feel residents are not happy. Electing me would mean an independent leader that answers directly to residents. Not to party lines. I’m also not someone who only appears or cares during election time. I’ve been here before the campaign, I’m here during the campaign, and I’ll be here long after the campaign too.”
Kayode Damali’s mayoral campaign is inspired by his pride in the borough and a commitment to best represent Lewisham’s communities
