Babu Owino’s declaration today is the boldest move in Nyanza politics since the October 2025 passing of Raila Odinga.
By telling skeptics to "ask anyone" on the ground, Babu is weaponizing his massive popularity among the youth and the "Team Ground" movement.
While Oburu Oginga was formally installed as Party Leader by the Central Committee in October, he lacks the charismatic "fire" that Nyanza voters traditionally demand.
Babu is positioning himself as the spiritual successor to Raila's "resistance" legacy, contrasting sharply with Oburu’s current "broad-based" cooperation with the Ruto government.
The "Kingpin" debate is no longer theoretical. In his Siaya address today, Babu Owino advocated for radical changes within ODM, arguing that the party has become "stagnant and co-opted" by the state.
He is offering a vision of "healing" through active opposition, tapping into the collective grief of a region that feels orphaned after Raila's death.
For many in Nyanza, Babu is the only leader who hasn't "softened" his stance against the Housing Levy and the high cost of living, making him the natural heir to the "People’s President" title.
Oburu Oginga has responded to the threat with an uncharacteristic dare, stating earlier this month: "If they say it’s NDC, let’s go to NDC." However, there is a "dark secret" behind this bravado—the Old Guard is terrified of a grassroots election.
If an NDC were held today, insiders believe the Babu-Sifuna faction would sweep the board, potentially ousting the Oginga family from the party leadership for the first time in history.
Today’s parallel rallies are a "dress rehearsal" for that eventual showdown.
Is Babu Owino the new kingpin? Strategically, he is the only leader in Nyanza commanding the kind of crowds that once belonged exclusively to Raila.
His ability to mobilize in Migori, Homa Bay, and Siaya—outside his Nairobi constituency—proves that his influence is regional, not just local.
By aligning with Winnie Odinga, he is also neutralizing the "dynastic" argument, suggesting that even within the family, the "Young Turks" are the ones who hold the key to the future.
As the 2027 polls load, Babu Owino’s rise scrambles President Ruto’s re-election math. Ruto had hoped a "Broad-based" ODM under the compliant Oburu would keep Nyanza quiet.
Instead, Babu is reigniting the "Wantam" (One Term) spirit.
If Babu succeeds in seizing control of ODM or forming a potent splinter group, the "Orange Revolution" will be reborn with a much younger, more aggressive face.
The era of "Negotiated Democracy" in Nyanza is dying; the era of "Babu" has officially begun.
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Politics