Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has openly declared his interest in leading the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), urging current party leader Oburu Odinga to step aside from active leadership and serve as a trustee.
Speaking amid growing tensions within the party, Babu said ODM requires youthful and energetic leadership to remain vibrant and relevant to its supporters. He argued that while Oburu should remain within the party, his role ought to shift to that of a custodian rather than an active leader.
“I over-qualify to be a party leader. We need young energy to drive this movement forward,” Babu said, maintaining that his recent political engagements demonstrate his readiness to take charge.
The legislator pointed to his Linda Mwananchi tours and mobilisation drives across the country, saying they have attracted large crowds and renewed enthusiasm among supporters. According to him, such momentum reflects the appetite for generational transition within the party.
Babu also linked his leadership ambitions to the enduring influence of ODM’s long-time figure Raila Odinga, popularly known as Baba. He said the spirit associated with Raila’s politics continues to inspire many Kenyans and should now be carried forward by younger leaders.
At the same time, the MP warned that internal wrangles within ODM risk weakening the party if left unresolved. He called for an urgent National Delegates Conference (NDC) to address what he described as confusion within party ranks.
Babu urged the current secretary general to convene the conference using an audited list of delegates to break the leadership stalemate and set a clear direction for the party’s future.
He insisted that generational transition is both inevitable and necessary, arguing that senior leaders can continue serving as advisors while younger members take up active leadership roles.
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