Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino has positioned himself as the frontrunner in Nairobi’s gubernatorial race, calling for a fresh approach to election campaigns in the capital. Speaking during an interview on Ramogi FM on Tuesday, Owino expressed confidence in his prospects, citing favorable polling data as evidence of his lead.
“All opinion polls indicate that I am ahead in this Governor race here in Nairobi,” he stated, projecting optimism about his electoral chances.
ODM’s Strategic Opportunity in Nairobi
Owino highlighted Nairobi as a critical political battleground, describing it as a strategic opportunity for the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) that should not be squandered. He urged the party leadership to grant him freedom to campaign across all constituencies, emphasizing the need to defend MCA seats effectively.
“Nairobi is low hanging fruit, they should just release me to go vie and defend all MCA seats in Nairobi,” Owino said, suggesting that current constraints are limiting his campaign efforts.
Cross-Ethnic Appeal and Campaign Focus
Drawing lessons from Kenya’s political history, Owino pointed to the cross-ethnic support demonstrated by the late ODM leader Raila Odinga, who garnered over a million votes from Kikuyu voters during his campaigns. He argued that Nairobi’s diverse population requires a similar unifying approach.
“We need a different strategy while dealing with election campaigns. Let’s get out and campaign to get votes and not be petty with politics,” he added, positioning himself as a candidate capable of transcending ethnic divisions in the cosmopolitan capital.
Nairobi Gubernatorial Race Outlook
Owino’s assertive statements signal his intention to make the Nairobi Governor’s race a central political battleground, banking on popularity and perceived strong polling numbers to carry him to victory. The capital’s gubernatorial contest remains competitive, with several potential candidates expected to join the race as the general election approaches.
As Nairobi’s political landscape continues to evolve, Owino’s campaign strategy focused on voter mobilization and broad-based appeal may set the tone for the upcoming electoral season in the city.
