Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has declared the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) politically dead under its current leaders. He spoke in an exclusive interview with K24 TV on Friday, People Daily reported. The MP has left the party, but he said he is ready to lead it.
"The current leadership of ODM is dead. They know that ODM is dead. They know that there is no proper leadership in ODM. If they don't pick one person, we are doomed," he said, according to The Star. In his view, the party has suffered a leadership vacuum since the death of its former leader, Raila Odinga.
Babu said he still respects ODM because of his political ties with Raila. He called Raila the last party leader he had. He said that if ODM gave him the party leader position, he would take it and reorganise the party's structures. He was careful when discussing current party leader Oburu Oginga. He called Oburu a father figure and said he did not want to speak badly of him.
Babu also ruled out joining President William Ruto's broad-based government. He said their ideologies differ and that he took the opposition side during the protests against the administration. "There is no way I can join the government," he said. He added that he had declared himself the opposition leader and would not abandon that stand for a political deal.
The MP said he is still working through his Mwananchi Party. He plans to hold a National Delegates Convention to formalise his leadership of the party.
On Nairobi, Babu said several people have approached him about partnering for the governor's seat. He said he will pick a running mate at the right time and that the choice will rest on merit and issues, not ethnicity, The Star reported.
The race for the Nairobi governorship in 2027 is starting to take shape. Governor Johnson Sakaja has joined ODM after leaving UDA. Embakasi North MP James Gakuya and Kasarani MP Ronald Karauri have also said they are interested in the seat.