Those at the rival meeting – including Embakasi MP Babu Owino; Siaya Governor James Orengo one of Raila Odinga's closest allies; and Suba South MP Caroli Omondi Secretary-General of the Azimio la Umoja coalition that backed Raila's 2022 presidential bid – stated that they recognised Oburu as ‘an elder but not the leader'...
Babu Owino MP for Embakasi East – a lower-middle-class Nairobi suburb – is another formidable organiser despite having avoided jail time for attempted murder...
Sifuna together with Siaya Governor James Orengo – one of Raila Odinga's oldest allies – and Nairobi MP Babu Owino has held a series of rallies in recent weeks under the banner Linda Mwananchi (‘Protect the Citizens') fuelling speculation that they and other ODM dissidents plan to form a breakaway party...
But the momentum behind the anti-Ruto faction of ODM led by party Secretary General Edwin Sifuna and Babu Owino MP for Embakasi East was lost when ODM successfully got out its ethnic base vote in a series of by-elections in November...
That has been refuted by Sifuna who – along with Embakasi East MP Babu Owino – is among a group of prominent ODM officials who want the party to appeal to the Gen Z movement and other young Kenyans...
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ODM's Babu Owino – another rabble rouser – Nairobi Senator and party secretary-general Edwin Sifuna and Dennis Waweru (defeated by Sonko in 2017) have also been touted as potential candidates...
DISPATCHES
That could encourage ODM's younger leaders including Babu Owino and General Secretary Edwin Sifuna to push for a break with the president (Dispatches 28/7/25 Sifuna goes rogue as ODM splits deepen)...
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Supporters of the group including prominent ODM youth politicians such as Caleb Amisi and Babu Owino say this is the first step towards a breakaway party if ODM continues to support Ruto...
The likes of Babu Owino and Caleb Amisi two of ODM's younger MPs who voted against Gachagua's impeachment and who have publicly criticised the Ruto government are among a group expected to lose their seats on influential Public Investments committees...
A vocal group within the ODM led by the rabble-rousing MP Babu Owino and the youthful Nairobi senator Sifuna strongly oppose Odinga's acceptance of behalf of the party of five cabinet posts in President Ruto's unity government...