By Anderson Ojwang
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is finding itself in a similar situation it was in during the first gubernatorial election for Nairobi in 2013, where it preferred then Housing Assistant Minister Margaret Wanjiru over the then immediate Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Mumias Sugar Company, Dr. Evans Kidero.
Kidero only benefitted from the allegations that Wanjiru’s degree certificates were fake to bag the ODM ticket and subsequently became the first governor of Nairobi.
Then Nairobi mayor and ODM county chairman George Aladwa revealed that a delegation had been sent, allegedly from Raila Odinga’s office, to prevail on Kidero to step down for Wanjiru but vowed to oppose it.
Wanjiru had wanted the top four seats—the presidency, governor, senator, and women representative—to be nominated directly and that she be rewarded with the gubernatorial ticket.
Currently, ODM is faced with a similar dilemma with Embakasi East MP Babu Owino convinced that the party will not grant him the ticket to contest for the seat.
Babu claimed the party preferred the current Governor Johnson Sakaja over him but exuded confidence that he would defeat him at the ballot.
Westlands MP Timothy Wanyonyi, who had earlier also expressed interest in the seat on the ODM ticket, was forced to shift his base to Bungoma County, where Governor Kenneth Lusaka is in his final term.
Babu, who spoke during a Ramogi TV interview, said, “I can clearly tell you that I will not be given the ODM ticket for the Nairobi gubernatorial seat, but I will still defeat Sakaja at the ballot.
I am convinced that Sakaja cannot defeat me, and it will create embarrassment in the ODM. I will win the gubernatorial race.
I know ODM will not award me the ticket, but I will deliver the gubernatorial seat. I will bring the seat home and don’t ask me how I will bring it home,” he said.
Babu said he was convinced that ODM prefers Sakaja to him on the premise that ahead of the African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson election in Ethiopia, at a prayer session in Bomas grounds, the party leadership and members endorsed the governor.
“I love ODM, and we have had our fights in the party. At the Bomas meeting, ODM officials came out in the open and endorsed Sakaja to lead Nairobi up to 2027 and beyond.
Another incident was when members of the Nairobi County Assembly wanted to impeach Sakaja over allegations of corruption and failure to deliver services. It is Raila who came to his rescue.
I keep on asking myself, I, Babu, why can’t they allow me to eat even the crumbs? Some people prefer that the crumbs be swept to the dustbin, so Babu doesn’t get it,” he said.
Speaking at Bomas of Kenya on Monday, February 10, Raila said he wishes Nairobi to remain stable even as he goes to the African Union Commission (AUC).
The veteran politician publicly declared that he wishes Sakaja to remain at the helm of Nairobi County.
“I want Nairobi to remain stable and for this young man Sakaja to continue being in charge firmly and do things properly,” Raila declared as the crowd cheered.
Sakaja said at the function, “I want to say that the signs of rainfall are heavy clouds and whoever has eyes should not be reminded to read the signs. In the next two weeks, I am going to meet with ODM women and respective branch chairmen so that they can say we are together in this.”
ODM Party Chairperson Gladys Wanga and Makadara MP Aladwa had earlier advised him to ditch the ruling UDA party in favor of ODM, which enjoys the highest support in Nairobi County.
“I want to thank in a special way our governor of Nairobi for standing with our party, yet he is not a member. I am kindly pleading with him to leave UDA and join ODM so that we walk together,” said Aladwa.
Governor Wanga added, “I want to urge Governor Sakaja to seriously consider what Aladwa has said. I have seen how the two of you have mobilized to make this event a success.”
Babu wondered why ODM preferred Sakaja despite him not having supported Raila’s presidential elections in the past, while he, Babu, has remained steadfast in support for Raila.
“I respect and love Raila. I will remain loyal to him, but my focus now is winning the seat. I will support his political ideology,” he said.
Babu has remained opposed to a broad-based government and has become a pariah among his ODM colleagues from Nyanza, who view him as a rebel.
Babu said whether ODM gives him the ticket or not, he would not engage in a political duel with Raila as he respects him as his political father.
