Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino has raised alarm over what he describes as a calculated scheme within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to politically outmaneuver him ahead of the next general election.
Speaking during an interview with a local media station on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, the outspoken legislator claimed he has credible information indicating that senior party insiders are “playing games” with his widely declared ambition to vie for the Nairobi gubernatorial seat.
According to Babu, the alleged plan involves assuring him of the ODM ticket for as long as possible, only to withdraw it close to the election. He warned that the party could later justify the move by claiming it had entered into a political arrangement with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), under which the Nairobi governor’s seat would be ceded to UDA.
The MP drew parallels to the 2022 general election, where he says a similar strategy was deployed against Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi. In that instance, ODM opted to back Jubilee candidate Polycarp Igathe for the Nairobi governor race, leaving Wanyonyi without party support and forcing him to retreat to defending his parliamentary seat.
Babu Owino argued that such last-minute political maneuvers are designed to weaken ambitious leaders and deny party members a fair and transparent nomination process. He warned that repeating the 2022 scenario would damage trust within ODM and alienate supporters who expect internal democracy.
Despite the claims, Babu maintained that he remains committed to his gubernatorial ambition and urged ODM to uphold fairness, clarity, and honesty in its internal processes. His remarks add to growing tension within the party as jockeying for positions ahead of the 2027 elections intensifies.
