With the scenes we saw on Friday in Nairobi, MP Babu Owino must be very careful going forward. Social media could mislead him on his popularity.
Well, I live in Nairobi and I get to hear that he does some work in Embakasi East; but I am not sure if he can do the same at the county level because a county is not a Constituency. And Nairobi County is not any other county. All those who tried to govern the city from Evans Kidero to Mike Mbuvi Sonko all flopped in their performance. Am not sure Babu could be any different.
Scenes witnessed in Nairobi Town during the signing of a working pact between Raila Odinga who is Babu Owino’s party boss and William Ruto of UDA Party loudly confirmed that Raila’s influence around the city is still intact.
Though we have had social media hate on what became of Mr. Odinga, especially, when he resolved to work with the current administration and abandoned the people, the turn-out of supporters at the KICC on Friday was something else. Nairobi roared back into life and showed how it still loves their Baba. The crowds were earth-breaking.
On that account alone, 2027 city politics could be hard for those planning to run independently or against ODM and UDA parties.
Ask yourself why Johnson Sakaja cannot govern the city without hanging on Raila’s coat. It’s because the city is under the mercies of Mr. Odinga. In fact, Sakaja won that position only because he was running against Jubilee’s drama queen Polycarp Igathe deputized by a less-known Wiper member in the spirit of Azimio coalition. Uhuru and Kalonzo had pressured Baba to leave the city to them and they still lost to the ‘dimpled’ Sakaja.
Come 2027, Raila won’t leave the city to anyone. Not even Ruto. I am afraid that Babu Owino who wants to manage own politics could be in for a rude shock. In fact, he needs to be very careful with Raila because ODM could even deny him Embakasi East votes. Voters, especially, those who support Baba are ungovernable and could break loose at any one given moment and move away in droves.
Mr. Babu Owino, whose real name is Paul Ongili with a number of UoN degrees, has a heavy task awaiting him in 2027 should he not tore the line as it’s supposed to be the culture. His continued rebellion may expose him to political danger that will never be recoverable again.
He could be expecting to gain from Kikuyu and Kamba voting bloc now that he is on the opposite side with the tribal-dancing Gachagua and Kalonzo Musyoka, but I still think this is not what can assure him of his safety. Kikuyus may have their own on on the ballot now that Gachagua is busy reminding them about the importance of being tribal. Infact, there is a Mt. Kenya party in place ready for that.
Advise Babu to be careful with social media excitement and craze. Miguna Miguna who is very popular on social media has a better experience. I doubt if he will ever try running in the city again.
