Oburu Odinga Talks Babu Owino’s ODM Ticket, Sifuna’s Loyalty, and the Next Luo Kingpin
The Orange Democratic Movement(ODM) will not sideline Embakasi East MP Babu Owino in his bid to become the next Governor of Nairobi County, new party leader Oburu Odinga has said.
The Siaya Senator assured that Babu has a fair chance as a member of the party to contest for the party’s ticket, He said the party would not deny him the 2027 gubernatorial ticket should he win the nominations.
Oburu Odinga, who spoke on Ramogi TV Tuesday evening, further allayed any fears that there might be bad blood between the outspoken MP and the party. He urged Babu Owino to remain in ODM incase he was having second thoughts.
“I do not see anything wrong with Babu Owino, although I hear there are some issues that may be troubling him,” Oburu said.
“I do not know why he believes he cannot be given the ODM ticket to vie for Nairobi Governor. I do not think there can be any reason to deny him the ticket if he wins the nominations. If he wins, he will get the ticket, so let him not run away from the party,” he added.
Senator Oburu assured all ODM party aspirants of equal and fair treatment as well as an open and transparent nomination process ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
“Anyone who wants the party ticket in the Nairobi Governor race should just declare and square it out openly among each other. Let nobody run away because they think they will be denied a chance. Nobody can take the ticket away from you if you win it and you’re a member of the party,” he emphasised.
Oburu at the same time said he has been personally trying to reach Babu Owino to reasure him.
“I have not found him yet, but I’m looking for him, I have sent people to look for him, I know I will find him soon so that we can have a conversation and I can tell him to keep calm and not worry,” Oburu said.
The ODM Party leader also addressed concerns about Edwin Sifuna, who has been accused of speaking with a double voice regarding the party’s affiliation with President William Ruto in the broad-based government.
According to Oburu, there is no cause for concern.
“Sifuna is the one who read out the resolutions of the party after our meeting (on Monday). I have spoken to him, and he has no problem,” he said.
“As a young person, sometimes he can become restless and go a little overboard, but he is with us and he will stay with us. There’s nothing he has done to warrant us removing him from the party. If he goes astray, as our child, we may just discipline him a little but within the party.”
Oburu further addressed speculation about the next Luo Kingpin to replace the late Raila Odinga.
“There’s no forum where a Luo kingpin is elected. A kingpin will sprout out of nowhere like a mushroom; someone will just emerge and take Raila’s space, but not from his agemates like myself,” he said.
“There are young leaders cropping up, and one of them will step up and take that place. But if we handpick somebody and the people do not accept him, then they will still not be kingpin,” Oburu added.
