Oburu Endorses Babu for Nairobi
Oburu Odinga, the acting leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), has given a reassuring nod to Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, promising him the gubernatorial ticket for Nairobi if he secures victory in the upcoming nominations for the 2027 General Election.
In a recent chat on Ramogi TV, Oburu brushed aside any concerns about Babu potentially being overlooked for the ticket. He encouraged Babu to stay patient and dedicated to the party, emphasizing that ODM’s nomination process will be open and fair, ensuring that the rightful winner will be granted the ticket without any hitches.
“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 think there can be any reason to deny him the ticket if he wins the nominations. If he wins, he will get it, so let him not run away from the party.”
Oburu urged all ODM hopefuls looking to run for the Nairobi gubernatorial seat to step up and compete against one another in the primaries, instead of jumping ship to other parties out of fear of being treated unfairly.
“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 added.
Babu Owino is making a name for himself as one of the young politicians poised to influence the future of ODM leadership. Recently, the Embakasi East MP has ramped up his public appearances, clearly indicating his desire to run for the Nairobi governor’s seat.
On the other hand, Oburu has warned against interpreting Raila Odinga’s succession solely through the lens of regional power players, emphasizing that leadership will naturally evolve over time.
“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 remarked.
He mentioned that younger leaders are likely to fill the gap left by Raila’s passing, emphasizing that these changes happen because of public support rather than being chosen by a select few.
“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 said.
Oburu Endorses Babu for Nairobi
