NAIROBI, Kenya- Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has escalated tensions within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), warning he could convene a parallel National Delegates Conference (NDC) if what he terms as planned manipulation of the party’s upcoming elections is not addressed.
Speaking during a radio interview on Tuesday, January 20, Babu accused senior party officials of engineering the delegate list to sideline youthful leaders and lock them out of ODM’s top leadership positions.
Alleged Delegate Manipulation Raises Stakes
Babu claimed that certain party insiders were planning to ferry delegates from regions perceived to favour specific factions, including parts of the Rift Valley and North Eastern Kenya, in a bid to influence outcomes at the NDC.
He vowed to personally scrutinise the delegate list, warning that only legitimate delegates would be allowed into the conference.
“If they call an NDC with fake delegates, we will also call our own,” Babu said, adding that his version of the conference would elect new leadership aligned with what he termed as the party’s true democratic spirit.
Open Bid for ODM Leadership
In unusually blunt remarks, the legislator openly declared his ambition to take over ODM’s top seat, insisting he should be elected party leader unopposed.
Babu dismissed claims that his push began after the death of ODM founder Raila Odinga, saying he had long made his intentions clear even when Raila was still alive.
“We used to say ‘baada ya Baba ni Babu’. This is not new,” he said, framing his bid as a continuation of a long-held ambition rather than a reaction to recent events.
While insisting he respects senior figures such as current party leader Oburu Odinga, Babu warned against what he described as the systematic exclusion of younger leaders with legitimate aspirations.
Youth vs Old Guard Tensions Deepen
The MP accused sections of ODM’s leadership of prioritising personal interests over the party’s future, alleging attempts to “auction” the party for selfish gain.
He also expressed frustration over what he termed as the marginalisation of Raila Odinga’s family, referencing complaints previously raised by Winnie Odinga, and warned that threatening the family undermines Raila’s legacy.
“The spirit of Raila Odinga lives in us — in myself, Winnie Odinga and even Edwin Sifuna,” Babu said, adding that leadership should not be reserved for those in their 70s or 80s.
His remarks come amid growing unrest within ODM, as younger members increasingly question the criteria used to determine leadership eligibility. Oburu Odinga has previously dismissed such threats, saying he will soon call an NDC and face his critics head-on.
