Editor's Review

Babu warned the United Opposition against repeating the mistake that cost Raila the presidency.

Embakasi East lawmaker Babu Owino has warned the United Opposition against spending too much time on political campaigns, alluding to how it could have cost former Premier Raila Odinga the presidency.

Speaking on Tuesday, September 15, Babu told the Opposition Leaders to spend as much time strategising on how they will win the 2027 General Election.

He claimed that despite Raila touring nearly the entire country during his 2022 campaigns, and huge crowds turning up for his rallies,  he lost the elections because he lacked strategy.

"I want to advise those who are in the Opposition. We need to spend more time strategising and getting tact, not only campaigning. Baba did all these rallies.

"We saw very huge rallies when he was campaigning, and I went with him to 280 constituencies, which is 95 per cent of the whole country, but Baba was not sworn in as the President despite being loved so much. Why? Probably because we did not spend much time planning and strategising," the MP said.

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A file photo of Embakasi East lawmaker Babu Owino.

Babu further reached out to Sifuna and the Linda Mwananchi team, advising them to open up to working with other leaders in the United Opposition.

He proposed that instead of going alone, Linda Mwananchi should form a coalition with other parties. 

The MP reckoned that no party has ever won a presidential election on its own under the new constitution, adding that a coalition ensured that the interests of all regions were well represented.

"We cannot win the 2027 elections if we are not united. As Linda Mwananchi, we are supporting Edwin Sifuna, but we need to bring other stakeholders on board so that we are united," he stated.

Meanwhile, he confirmed that he had his own political party, which he would use to contest the Nairobi governorship. Babu added that he will remain the party leader and would enter into a coalition with Sifuna under Linda Mwananchi.

The outspoken legislator clarified claims of a strained relationship with Sifuna. He explained that the two were running for different offices in 2027, hence no conflict of interest.

He made it clear that he fully supported Sifuna's bid for the presidency, and accused the government of sponsoring fake propaganda to paint a picture of disunity within Linda Mwananchi.