NAIROBI, Kenya — Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino has dismissed claims of a political fallout with Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, saying their separate ambitions for the 2027 elections do not amount to a leadership wrangle.
Owino said the two remain allies within the Linda Mwananchi movement, with Sifuna seeking the presidency while he positions himself to contest the Nairobi gubernatorial seat.
“There are no internal wrangles between Sifuna and me. We are pursuing different seats; Sifuna is seeking the presidency, while I am pursuing the gubernatorial seat,” Owino said during a press conference on Tuesday, September 15, 2026.
Babu says he supports Sifuna’s bid
Owino said he has continued campaigning for Sifuna beyond Nairobi, arguing that their different political ambitions should not be interpreted as rivalry.
“In fact, I have attended and participated in rallies across different counties, far beyond my area of political aspiration, in support of Sifuna’s presidential bid,” he said.
“Different ambitions do not mean conflicting interests. We can support one another and work together for a better Kenya.”
The two leaders were among opposition figures who led the Linda Mwananchi movement’s Nairobi tour on Sunday, September 13, culminating in a rally at Jacaranda Grounds.
Babu accuses rivals of pushing division
Owino said reports portraying him and Sifuna as political rivals were intended to create divisions within the opposition.
He previously rejected similar claims in August, urging supporters to remain behind Sifuna and arguing that attempts to separate the two leaders would weaken the opposition’s challenge to President William Ruto.
The latest remarks come amid growing attention on the ambitions of leaders within Linda Mwananchi as they position themselves ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Different seats, same movement
Sifuna has been stepping up his nationwide political mobilisation while presenting himself as a presidential contender under the Linda Mwananchi banner.
Owino, meanwhile, has increasingly focused on his ambition to become Nairobi governor.
The competing ambitions have fuelled speculation about how the movement will manage its candidates and leadership structure ahead of the election.
Recent reporting has also highlighted the political choices facing Linda Mwananchi as it seeks to turn its growing visibility into electoral support.
Sifuna’s Nairobi campaign draws crowds
Sifuna’s latest Nairobi tour took him alongside Owino, Siaya Governor James Orengo, Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi and other allies through several parts of the capital before the group converged at Jacaranda Grounds.
The September 13 mobilisation followed similar county-level engagements by the movement as its leaders seek to build a national political platform ahead of 2027.
Owino’s continued public appearance alongside Sifuna has also provided a visible show of unity despite the different offices the two leaders are seeking.
Leadership contests loom
The question of who will ultimately secure key elective positions within the movement is likely to become more prominent as the 2027 election approaches.
For now, Owino insists that his gubernatorial ambition and Sifuna’s presidential bid can coexist within the same political camp.
His message to supporters is that the two leaders can pursue separate electoral targets while maintaining a common opposition agenda.
