Babu Owino has opened up about the political differences that led to the collapse of his working relationship with Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, disclosing that the two had initially agreed on how to share leadership positions in a new political outfit.
Speaking during a recorded interview with K24 on Friday, November 13, the Embakasi East MP said their original plan was to have Sifuna run for president while he served as the party leader after leaving the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
According to Babu, the arrangement had the backing of other members who were also planning to exit ODM and pursue a new political direction.
However, he claimed the agreement changed after they left the Orange party, with some members pushing for Sifuna to take both the presidential candidate and party leader positions.
“Initially, we had agreed with Sifuna and other members that the moment we get the party out, Sifuna was to be the presidential candidate and I was to be the party leader, but things changed. I also don’t know how things changed,” Babu stated.
The Mwananchi Party leader said some members argued that a presidential candidate should automatically lead the party.
He maintained that both politicians needed an opportunity to develop their political careers independently.
“Some were saying that a presidential candidate cannot fail to be a party leader. But we said that we needed to both of us grow. Both of us had to grow,” he added.
His remarks follow his departure from the Linda Mwananchi Movement and subsequent move to Muungano Party, which was later rebranded as the Mwananchi Party.
Sifuna had attempted to register the Linda Mwananchi Movement as a political party but encountered challenges at the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP), prompting him to join the Equitable Party (TEP).
On Friday, November 13, TEP officially rebranded as the Linda Mwananchi Movement party, giving Sifuna a political vehicle through which to pursue his ambitions.
Babu said his decision to pursue a separate political path was informed by the need to protect his own interests, insisting that political partnerships should allow both leaders to advance.
“And politics is about interest. There is no way one was to grow and leave the other one down,” he said.
He also explained that the proposed arrangement would have allowed him to remain party leader even if Sifuna secured the presidency, providing a form of political balance within the party.
“So if Sifuna was to be the presidential candidate and Babu was to be the party leader, if Sifuna, by God’s grace, becomes the president, what can a party leader do to a commander-in-chief? Nothing, right? But again, Babu would also be secure. Because there are a lot of insecurities when people get seats,” he added.
The MP dismissed suggestions that the two were competing politically, saying their ambitions were different ahead of the 2027 General Election.
“There can’t be competition between Babu and Sifuna. Sifuna is going for president, Babu is going for governor,” he said.
He maintained that he supported Sifuna’s presidential ambitions despite choosing to pursue the Nairobi gubernatorial seat.
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