‘Nimetosha kuwa party leader!’ Babu Owino explodes, accuses ODM of sidelining him in key positions

Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino on Saturday mounted one of his boldest challenges yet to the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party, declaring himself ready for a bigger seat and openly questioning why he was overlooked in the latest appointments.

In a fiery address during the ODM at 20 celebrations at the Mama Ngina Waterfront in Mombasa, Owino - already seen as a restless force within the party – assured the late political outfit’s leader Raila Odinga of unwavering loyalty to street battles in the face of harsh living conditions.

But, in the same breath, Owino turned his guns inward, telling the Orange party hierarchy to “think again” about sidelining him in future positions.

“Nataka kuhakikishia Raila Amollo Odinga mahali popote yupo sai; Baba siku ya leo, gharama ya maisha ikienda juu, tutaenda maandamano, wapende wasipende!” He thundered.

“Baba siku ya leo karo ya shule ikipelekwa juu, tutaenda maandamano, wapende wasipende! Baba siku ya leo bei za bidhaa zikienda juu, tutaenda maandamano, wapende wasipende!”

But the heat did not end there. Taking direct aim at the party’s allocation of positions this past Thursday, in which Siaya Senator Dr. Oburu Oginga was formally ratified as new ODM leader, Owino wondered aloud why his name was missing from the lineup.

“Jana niliona viongozi wetu wa ODM wakipewa viti, congratulations. Lakini nataka niwaulize swali wadosi, mliangalia huyu Babu Owino mkaona hawezi tosha kiti yoyote?” He posed.

“Kwa hivo mfikirie hiyo, youth leader (Oburu) nakuheshimu, lakini hapo mbele hata Babu ametosha party leader.”

Owino’s remarks come after Dr. Oburu, while still serving as interim party leader late last month, extended an olive branch to him and assured the youthful MP that the party would run a fair nomination process in the run-up to 2027.

The lawmaker has in the past claimed he was being pushed to the periphery, especially regarding the battle for Nairobi’s governorship, a ticket he has insisted he deserves a fair shot at but was allegedly being prepared for someone else.

His remarks on Saturday re-ignited those tensions, laying bare a generational fault line within ODM even as the party marks two decades in national politics.

Oburu’s attempt at conciliation, telling Owino he is valued and will not be short-changed, may have momentarily cooled the air, but the Embakasi East MP’s speech leaves no doubt that ODM’s internal contestations remain very much alive.

If anything, the outspoken legislator used the anniversary stage to declare, loudly and unapologetically, that he is done waiting quietly in the wings.