Babu Owino: Why I am the best bet for Nairobi Governor

Embakasi East MP Babu Owino. (Photo: X/Babu Owino)

By Lucy Mumbi
Monday, October 13, 2025

The MP noted that despite internal party dynamics within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), he remains committed to the party and its leader, Raila Odinga.

Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has declared his intention to run for Nairobi governor, describing his rise from humble beginnings to Parliament as a continuous journey of leadership and public service.

Speaking on Monday during an interview with Hot 96 FM, Owino recounted his formative years, student leadership roles and parliamentary achievements as evidence of his readiness for the city’s top job.

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“As a leader, I’ve been a leader all my life. I was a prefect from class three to six, then assistant head boy in class eight and head boy of Central Primary School from form one to form four, I was a prefect. Later, I received a scholarship to study A-levels at Millennium Academy, where I became head boy in form five and six,” Owino said.

He reflected on challenges he faced due to financial constraints but noted that they did not deter his leadership ambitions.

“I was called for an interview to become the head boy, but the school required me to be a boarder, and I couldn’t afford the fee. That’s why I lost the position. But I continued serving as a prefect and later got a scholarship to Millennium Academy. I thank the director, Mr Kanji, Miss Kasim and Miss Kam for giving opportunities to the less privileged,” Owino said.

Owino also defended his university leadership record, saying his time as a student leader prepared him for national leadership. He explained that his efforts at university were part of a larger mission to protect students’ rights and ensure their voices were heard in national policy decisions.

“I joined the University of Nairobi in 2008, and by 2011, I became a student leader. I served four times; no other student leader has ever served that long. I also served as president of the Kenya Universities Students Organisation, representing all universities in the country. When the government threatened to increase university fees, we protested nationwide, and they retracted. When President William Ruto was the minister of higher education, we ensured social sciences courses were not scrapped,” he said.

“We also intervened when students were arrested over minor issues, and thanks to the police, we maintained a good working relationship. What we did at the university, we have replicated in Embakasi East, and we will continue to replicate it in the next journey we are going on.”

He further highlighted his parliamentary achievements, pointing to his performance in Embakasi East as evidence of his readiness for broader leadership roles.

“I’m currently serving my second term as MP for Embakasi East and have been ranked the best MP in Kenya by InfoTrack for two consecutive years. What we did at the university, we have replicated in Embakasi East, and we will continue to replicate it in the next journey we are going on,” Owino said.

Owino noted that despite internal party dynamics within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), he remains committed to the party and its leader, Raila Odinga.

“Am I not a member of ODM? I have no issues with ODM, my party leader, or my fellow MPs, but they may have issues with me,” he said.

He likened his situation to Joseph in the Bible, saying just as Joseph’s brothers grew uneasy over his dreams, some MPs in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) are unsettled by his growing influence.

“Joseph had dreams and told his father and brothers that one day he would be their leader. His brothers became angry. That is what bothers some of our MPs in ODM. Some feel this brother is going to be president in the future,” he said.

He added that his interactions with other political figures, including President William Ruto and Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, are strictly issue-based and not personal.