Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino has laid bare the political friction behind his latest move, asserting that he has registered his own political party independent of Senator Edwin Sifuna’s Linda Mwananchi movement.
The outspoken legislator, known for his combative style in the National Assembly, clarified that his decision to forge a solo path was rooted in long-standing frustrations within his former political home, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). The move comes at a time when Kenya's political landscape is shifting, with various actors scrambling to build coalitions ahead of the 2027 General Election.
According to the MP, the separation is not a mere tactical retreat but a fundamental disagreement on the vision for his future political vehicle. Central to the revelation is the lawmaker's claim that there was a previously discussed arrangement in which he would have taken the helm as the party leader, while the Nairobi Senator was expected to spearhead the movement’s presidential bid.
The failure of this power-sharing agreement to take root appears to have been the catalyst for his decision to seek autonomy. This development adds a layer of complexity to the Linda Mwananchi movement, which has been positioning itself as a grassroots-focused alternative, recently rebranding at a National Delegates Conference.
By charting a different course, the Embakasi East MP is effectively signaling that he is no longer content to wait for consensus within existing coalition structures. For political observers, this split underscores the ongoing restlessness within the opposition as prominent figures look beyond traditional power structures to secure their political survival. Whether this new party will emerge as a formidable competitor or a regional spoiler remains a subject of intense speculation.
As the country inches closer to the next election cycle, the strategic maneuvering between the two Nairobi-based politicians will likely continue to draw significant attention from both voters and political analysts.