Babu Owino: I want to be a national kingpin
Embakasi East Member of Parliament (MP) Babu Owino has declared his intention to rise beyond regional politics and position himself as a national political force.
Speaking during an interview with a local TV station on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, Owino thanked the people of the Nyanza region for the overwhelming support they accorded him, describing it as a clear endorsement of his leadership and vision.
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“I want to take this opportunity to thank the great people of the Nyanza region for having that trust in me. You saw the numbers, and numbers never lie. The numbers spoke,” Owino said.
According to Babu the strong show of support has unsettled some party officials who, he claimed, are now uneasy after witnessing the political arithmetic on the ground.
“That is why some of our party officials are so scared, because they have seen the numbers,” he added.
Owino was quick to distance himself from ethnic kingpin politics, insisting that his ambitions go far beyond being labeled a Luo or regional power broker.
“Leave the Luo kingpin aside. I want to be a national kingpin, a Kenyan kingpin. That is the most important thing, because we want to transform the lives of Kenyans irrespective of where they come from,” Owino said.
This comes a few weeks after Babu Owino emerged as the most preferred successor to the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, according to a new opinion poll by the research firm Infotrak.
The survey, released on Sunday, December 28, 2025, offers a snapshot of how Kenyans view the future leadership of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) at a time when conversations about succession are quietly gaining momentum across the political landscape.
The study was conducted through quantitative interviews using computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI). Infotrak sampled 1,000 adults drawn from all 47 counties and the country’s eight regions. Respondents were asked to name who they believe is best placed to take over from Raila Odinga as the face and leader of the movement.
According to the results, 33 per cent of those interviewed picked Babu Owino as their preferred choice. The outcome stands out because Owino has, on several occasions, taken positions that differ from official ODM party lines, including publicly opposing the broad-based government arrangement.
Despite this, a significant number of respondents still see him as the strongest heir to Raila’s political influence, pointing to his visibility, outspoken style, and appeal to younger voters.
Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga, who currently serves as the ODM party leader, came a distant second with 10 per cent. Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga followed with 7 per cent, while Siaya Governor James Orengo garnered 4 per cent. Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi and Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo each received 2 per cent support. Treasury CS John Mbadi, Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o, and EALA MP Winnie Odinga each attracted 1 per cent.
