Africa-Press – Kenya. Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has stirred debate within the ODM, hinting he may challenge the party’s new leader, Oburu Odinga, for the top position. Speaking on Saturday during the Orange party’s 20th anniversary celebrations at the Mama Ngina Waterfront in Mombasa, Babu lamented being left out of party positions when the National Governing Council (NGC) confirmed Oburu and his deputies as party leaders during a special sitting on Thursday.
“Wadosi, mliangalia huyu Babu Owino mkaona hawezi tosha kiti yoyote? (Leaders, you looked at Babu Owino and concluded he was not fit for any seat?),” He asked, drawing loud cheers from supporters.
Babu, warmly welcomed by ODM secretary general and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, said he felt sidelined and would not have been invited to address the crowd if not for the SG’s intervention.
“Nimejua hawa wadosi wetu hawatanikaribisha hapa tena. Wacha niongee kwa sababu Raila alipokuwa mzima, nilikuwa nachukua hata one hour ya kuongea,” he said.
(I know our leaders won’t welcome me here again. Let me speak because when Raila was fully in charge, I used to take even an hour to talk.” Sifuna said the invitation was to appease disappointed youth leaders after Babu missed a meeting with student leaders across the Coast on Friday.
“We had a meeting with the youth, and they were not happy because they did not see you. I called you and told you to ensure you have to be here early in the morning,” he said.
“This is a confirmation that I delivered on my promise to ensure you are here today. Let Babu greet you for one minute, and be respectful, please.”
While congratulating the newly confirmed leadership, Babu made it clear he was not content with being overlooked. Turning to Oburu, he signalled his ambition for the party’s top post even as he acknowledged respect for the new leader.
“Youth leader nakuheshimu lakini hapo mbele hata Babu ametosha party leader. Tunasema ni Babu kwa sababu kama kuna tabu ana jawabu la ajabu,” he said.
(Youth leader, I respect you, but as we move forward, even Babu is capable of being party leader. We say Babu because whenever there’s trouble, he has an extraordinary answer.)
“Bila Babu, tabu (Without Babu, trouble),” he added, echoing his familiar campaign slogan.
During Thursday’s NGC session in Mombasa, Oburu was confirmed as ODM party leader, with Mombasa Governor Abdulswammad Shariff Nassir, Kisii Governor Simba Arati and Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi as his deputies.
Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo and John Ariko (Turkana South) were named deputy national chairpersons, Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi as national organising secretary, Kisumu Woman Rep Ruth Odinga as deputy organising secretary, and Kisumu West MP Rozaah Buyu as secretary for political affairs.
Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga was confirmed as the national chairperson. Babu’s remarks stirred fresh debate over internal party inclusivity and succession politics. His public signal that he may challenge Oburu adds a new layer to ODM’s post-Raila reorganisation and youth-driven pressure for generational change.
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