Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino has expressed a strong desire to take over the leadership of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) barely four months after Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga took over as party leader.
Speaking to NTV on Thursday, January 8, the MP claimed that members of ODM should organise a National Delegate Conference (NDC), which will help him take over the party "as soon as possible".
Babu maintained that he is the rightful successor to the party leadership following the death of former party leader Raila Odinga, especially since there was no proper procedure to select the new leadership. He claims that the current leadership is incompetent and irregular.
The lawmaker is optimistic that the conference will also be fundamental in easing the rising political tensions that have been brewing in the party since last October.
"What we are asking is that an NDC meeting be called with immediate effect in ODM. There was no procedure whatsoever in getting the new leadership of ODM in place," Owino said.
"We want to take the leadership of the party as soon as possible. We want to revamp the party because, as Babu Owino, I have always said that after Baba, it is Babu," he added.
The MP is part of an ODM camp that is currently opposing the party's collaboration with President William Ruto's administration, a collaboration that is being heavily supported by the ODM's party leader, Oburu Odinga, and other prominent figures such as Suna East Member of Parliament Junet Mohamed.
Babu's call for the NDC conference was supported by other party members, including the party's Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, Siaya Governor James Orengo, and Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga, among others, who held a meeting on Thursday.
The MP said that once he takes over the party leadership, he will ensure that ODM produces a presidential candidate who will go head-on against President Ruto during the highly anticipated general elections in 2027.
"If those people think that ODM cannot produce a presidential candidate, they are short-sighted; they are dealers and not leaders. We want to help Kenyans because they are suffering," Babu said.
On the other hand, leaders supporting Oburu have been vocal in castigating politicians opposing him as the party leader, stressing that he is the suitable leader to steer the party in the right political direction.
Speaking during a public event on Sunday, December 28, MP Junet Mohamed slammed party members who allegedly declared themselves fit for the presidency, noting that the party’s constitution does not allow anyone to position themselves as a presidential candidate in the next general election, apart from the party leader.
According to the lawmaker, the party members are still waiting for Oburu's confirmation on whether he can vie for the country's top seat or not.
Oburu assured that he still has the strength to lead the party, and he shall not entertain anyone to dismantle the solid reputation and legacy that of former prime minister had engineered for the party.
Oburu noted that the party will remain committed to the broad-based arrangement with President William Ruto, as per the wishes of his late brother.
"I'm not afraid to say that I will not allow myself to be shaken. I'm going to sit on the party leader seat of ODM squarely, and anybody who thinks that Oburu Odinga is about to die soon is seriously mistaken because I'm the same age as Trump of America," Oburu said.
