The group includes Siaya governor James Orengo a close ally of ODM founder the late Raila Odinga Nairobi senator Edwin Sifuna and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino...

ODM insiders recognise the campaigning ability of Sifuna himself a Nairobi Senator and Babu Owino MP for Nairobi's Embakasi North seat and do not want to lose them...

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...

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...