Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has weighed in on what he perceives as favoritism shown by Azimio leader Raila Odinga towards Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja.
In a statement on Thursday, January 16, the MP expressed dismay at Raila's apparent support for Sakaja, questioning the governor’s loyalty to the Azimio leader.
"On Governor Sakaja being favoured by Raila Odinga; in a house, a father can love one child more than the other but it is quite unfortunate that this child is not from our house, he is a neighbor's child," he said.
Read More
Owino went on to recount Sakaja’s political history, highlighting the governor's past affiliations with parties that opposed Odinga's candidacies, including Vijana na Kibaki movement in 2007 and The National Alliance (TNA) in 2013.
The MP also pointed out that Sakaja remained in Jubilee in 2017 and aligned himself with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) in 2022, once again opposing Raila.
"He is a neighbor's child who in 2007 was in Vijana na Kibaki; opposed Baba because he was in Kibaki's team. In 2013 he was the chairman of TNA; did not vote for Baba, opposed Baba, and therefore didn't want Baba to be the President. In 2017 he was in Jubilee; opposed Baba, did not vote for Baba, and wanted Uhuru to be the president.
"In 2022, he was in UDA; Sakaja opposed Baba and wanted Ruto to be the President. So therefore he's never wanted Baba. This is not a person who is coming with clean hands, this is a person who doesn't love Baba, he hasn't sacrificed anything for Baba. Baba should know better," he added.
Recently, Sakaja publicly endorsed Raila's candidacy for the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson position, noting that he was ready to celebrate him as the new chair.
"We wish Raila Odinga the best in his AU candidacy and the upcoming debate in Addis Ababa. We look forward to celebrating him as the chair," he said in a past interview.
Sakaja accompanied Raila to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for the AUC proceedings, a move that led to political friction.
"I am being fought for working with Raila Odinga," he said.