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Tensions are growing within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party after Embakasi East MP Babu Owino threatened to organize a parallel National Delegates Conference (NDC).
Speaking during a radio interview on Tuesday, January 20, Babu said he is unhappy with how the party’s upcoming elections are being handled. He accused some ODM officials of planning to manipulate the list of delegates in order to block young leaders from taking top positions in the party.
Babu claimed that some party leaders want to bring in delegates from regions that support them, such as the Rift Valley and North Eastern, to influence the outcome of the NDC. He said he would carefully check the delegates’ list to make sure only genuine delegates attend the meeting.
He warned that if the party goes ahead with what he called an unfair process, he would organize a separate NDC that would elect its own leaders, including himself as party leader.
The MP said young leaders in ODM have the right to seek leadership and should not be pushed aside. He accused some senior party officials of putting their personal interests ahead of the party’s values and goals.
Babu also defended his long-standing ambition to lead ODM, saying his plans did not begin after the death of party founder Raila Odinga. He said he had publicly expressed his interest even when Raila was still alive, adding that party supporters used to say, “After Raila is Babu.”
While he said he respects senior leaders, including current party leader Oburu Odinga, Babu insisted that young members should not be looked down upon. He said leadership should not be limited by age and warned older leaders against blocking the next generation.
He also expressed concern over what he called the mistreatment of Raila Odinga’s family, referring to recent complaints by Winnie Odinga. Babu said threatening or sidelining the family goes against Raila’s legacy.
According to him, the spirit of Raila Odinga lives on in young ODM leaders such as himself, Winnie Odinga, and party secretary general Edwin Sifuna.
The remarks have increased divisions within ODM, especially as younger members question the leadership and the process used to elect party officials. Oburu Odinga has previously said he is not afraid of the threats and promised to soon call for the official NDC to face his critics.
