paul Ongili Owino, better known as Babu Owino, the firebrand Member of Parliament for Embakasi East, is currently at the heart of Nairobi's political conversation. Having successfully secured two terms in his constituency, the youthful legislator is now fully focused on his biggest prize yet: the Nairobi Gubernatorial Seat in the 2027 General Election.
His ambitious bid, however, is a complex political gamble pitting him directly against the powerful incumbent, Governor Johnson Sakaja, and potentially, against his own party leadership.
The Declared Mission: Governor in 2027
Babu Owino has made it unequivocally clear that he is running for Governor. His strategy centers on painting the incumbent, Johnson Sakaja, as a political beneficiary of the current national administration, who is thus shielded from accountability.
- Critique of the Incumbent: Owino frequently criticizes Governor Sakaja's performance, particularly by linking the Governor's political survival to his relationship with the presidency. He recently asserted that any leader who "befriends the president is saved from corruption," directly challenging the integrity of the current Nairobi administration.
- The 'Brains vs. Dimples' Narrative: Owino, an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya with degrees in Actuarial Science and Law, often leverages his academic background and reputation for mobilization to portray himself as a more qualified and intellectually capable alternative to Sakaja.
- Grassroots and Youth Appeal: With a track record of strong grassroots support from his days as a prominent student leader and through his parliamentary work, Owino maintains significant influence, particularly among Nairobi's large youth population and in high-density areas.
The ODM Tightrope Walk
The most significant hurdle for Owino is navigating the shifting political landscape within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
- Internal Rebellion: Owino is a vocal member of the "young turks" within ODM who have heavily criticized the party's recent decision to collaborate with the ruling party. This move is viewed by some ODM youth as compromising the party's opposition role.
- The Sakaja Problem: Given ODM's new cooperative alignment, there is intense speculation that the party might be pressured to back the incumbent Governor Sakaja for the sake of political expediency, a move that would immediately torpedo Owino's bid.
- The Ultimate Threat: Owino has publicly declared his determination to run "with or without his party's backing." This statement underscores his readiness to ditch his party's ticket if denied the nomination, a dangerous but defiant move that would test the power of his personal brand and grassroots mobilisation against the established party machinery.
Navigating the Political Battlefield
While Owino has a strong base and is a fierce campaigner, he is simultaneously fighting on several fronts:
- Fighting Fake News: His national profile has made him a target of fake news and manipulated graphics, including fabricated quotes about political deals and alleged ethnic slurs against rival aspirants like Irungu Nyakera. Owino has been quick to publicly debunk these graphics.
- Facing New Rivals: Beyond Sakaja, the race is expected to attract other formidable opponents. Owino's success will depend on his ability to consolidate the opposition vote while building an ethnically inclusive campaign in Kenya's cosmopolitan capital.
The Nairobi gubernatorial race is already shaping up to be one of the most consequential contests of the 2027 election cycle, and Babu Owino, the incumbent MP with a fierce independent streak, is poised to be the primary challenger. His ability to either force his party's hand or win as an independent candidate will be the ultimate test of his political clout.
