Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino on Saturday delivered one of his most direct challenges yet to the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), signalling his readiness to pursue higher political office while questioning why he was passed over in the party’s latest leadership appointments.
Speaking during the ODM at 20 celebrations at the Mama Ngina Waterfront in Mombasa, the outspoken legislator reaffirmed his loyalty to party leader Raila Odinga, particularly in confronting the economic hardships facing many Kenyans. Owino pledged continued support for public demonstrations in response to rising costs of living, school fees, and commodity prices.
At the same time, he openly criticised the party structure for sidelining him in Thursday’s leadership changes, where Siaya Senator Dr. Oburu Oginga was formally confirmed as ODM’s new party leader. Owino questioned why his name was absent from the new lineup despite his active role within the party.
While congratulating those who received positions, Owino challenged ODM’s senior leadership to reconsider his exclusion, asserting that he is fully capable of holding significant roles within the party. He went further, suggesting that even the position of party leader is within his reach in the future.
His remarks revived long-standing tensions surrounding perceptions that he has been marginalised, particularly in relation to the anticipated race for the Nairobi governorship ahead of the 2027 elections. Owino has repeatedly insisted on a fair nomination process, claiming that the party has been preparing the ticket for another candidate.
Saturday’s statements exposed deeper generational rifts within ODM, even as the party celebrated two decades of political influence. Although Dr. Oburu recently attempted to reassure Owino that he remains valued and will not be short-changed, the Embakasi East MP’s bold address demonstrated that internal party debates and power dynamics remain unresolved.
At the anniversary event, Owino made it unmistakably clear that he no longer intends to remain on the sidelines, using the platform to assert both his ambition and his dissatisfaction with the status quo.
