By Anderson Ojwang
The recent political attack on Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino by Uganda President Yoweri Museveni was pregnant and poignant.
For many, it passed like the Uganda president’s usual political diatribe. In an actual sense, it marked the birth of a new political generation not only in Kenya but also in East Africa and Africa at large.
Currently, the younger generation is staking claim in the country’s leadership and Babu Owino seems to have found himself among the emerging new crop of Africa’s young leaders.
The Kisumu Boys alumni came from a humble background and could be defying the odds to position himself at the apex of national politics and his stars are shining brighter.
According to Museveni, Babu Owino supports the anti-National Resistance Movement (Uganda’s ruling party) and is a close ally to Ugandan opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine.
“There are some individuals in Raila’s group who I don’t think know what they are doing. I am a consumer of intelligence services…I always see intelligence service reports. There’s a character called Babu. I always see Babu dealing with anti-NRM groups in Uganda,” said Museveni.
Symbolically, Museveni was in Nairobi, State House during the unveiling of immediate former Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga’s candidature for African Union (AU) chair seat.
Raila had earlier declared that he was exiting the local political scene for the AU seat and vacated his party leadership to Kisumu Governor Prof Anyang Nyong’o. The race to inherit his mantle for the Luo community has begun in earnest.
Those who have been mentioned as probable heir apparent to Raila’s throne include Babu Owino, Siaya Governor James Orengo, Cabinet Secretaries John Mbadi and Opiyo Wandayi, Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, Rarieda MP Otiende Amolo among others.
But Babu in his response to Museveni was guarded comparing the Ugandan President’s term to his current age, saying “he is like a grandfather to me hence I accords him some modicum of respect”.
“The current President of Uganda Yoweri Museveni came and I don’t want him to lose his vote for Baba, I want him to vote for Baba. I genuinely respect him as my grandfather,” said Owino.
DAP-Kenya Party Leader Eugene Wamalwa, on his part, expressed dismay at the Ugandan President for seemingly beefing with a young politician the age of his grandson like Owino.
“We were very shocked when we heard one of the Heads of State attacks someone who is supposed to be his grandson. Mimi ni Rafiki sana wa mheshimiwa Yoweri Museveni ( I am personally a good friend to President Yoweri Museveni,” he said.
ODM Secretary General Mr. Edwin Sifuna in a statement on X, Sifuna called out Museveni for verbally reprimanding Babu while in Kenya.
“Whatever beef Museveni has with Babu Owino, I strongly object to the manner of his attack on a young Kenyan leader on our own soil,” said Sifuna.
Apart from ruffling feathers regionally, Babu has also been creating rumbles in local politics where he has become a lone ranger in the current political realignment between ODM and President Ruto’s UDA party and the formation of a broad-based government.
Babu has maintained that he is the chief opposition leader and will continue to fight for the welfare of Kenyans.
During the impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in the national assembly he did participate.
A former Nairobi university student leader and political commentator Dr Gedion Majiwa said it was not a walk in the park for Babu to be elected Sonu chairman severally and eventually Embakasi East MP.
“Babu is a strategist. He knows when to strike and when to lie low. He is a good mobilizer and understands the political dynamics and he has a high survival instinct. He is an orator and has mastered the public and crowd psychology, Give it to him,” he said.
Dr Majiwa said in the current political dispensation Babu will surprise many because he is a go-getter and he is already endearing himself to the masses and the reception is positive which is a plus for him in his political journey.
Dr Majiwa said Babu is a performer and that is why Nairobians hold him high and see him as a potential future governor or any other top seat in the country.
In the recent survey conducted by research firm InfoTrack, Babu was among the top influential personalities in the country.
Raila was mentioned as Kenya’s most influential figure and has remained the political determinant in the country.
Raila led the survey, with 26 percent of the respondents naming him as the most influential person. President William Ruto, whose government has faced a lot of criticism and opposition, especially this year, came in second, scoring a seven percent mark.
Impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, came third with a six percent score.
Babu tied at five percent with Gen Zs. The MP has always been on the side of the young people in most issues that affect the country and even showed solidarity during the June-July-August demonstrations against the government.
Babu has shown interest in the ODM party leadership after Raila opted out to run for AU chair.
“The person who should replace Baba will beat Ruto in 2027 and that’s me. I, therefore, call on the Central Management Committee of the ODM Party to consider my strong desire to serve this prominent institution as its Party Leader to bring the rebirth now required to move it to the next level of engagement for the renewal of Kenya and the fundamentals of leadership.“ he said.
The party gave the interim position to Nyongo who is the current party leader of the party as Raila seeks to be elected AU chair.
“Raila has been my political leader, and I respect him deeply. I have worked under him, for him, and with him. He is still my leader. We cannot ignore the impact he has had on Kenya,” he said.
Babu has maintained he has cut his teeth and was capable of giving alternative leadership to the country.
“Experience does not come with age; it comes with the challenges you have faced. I may be 35 years old, but I have encountered and solved numerous challenges. Others may have lived longer, but they have not faced as many trials,” he said.
