Oburu Odinga. Photo/Courtesy
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has sparked a fresh controversy within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), questioning the legality of Oburu Odinga’s appointment as party leader following Raila Odinga’s death.
His remarks cast doubt on whether the process followed in the November 2025 Central Management Committee (CMC) meeting adhered to the party’s constitution.
In a statement shared on X, Babu Owino outlined what he describes as the clear limitations of the National Executive Committee (NEC) under ODM rules.
He stressed that, apart from the Executive Director and Secretaries for Parliamentary Affairs, all national officials must be elected by the National Delegates Convention (NDC).
“The NEC has no mandate to elect a party leader,” Owino wrote, adding that its authority is strictly limited to appointing the Executive Director, an ex-officio party official.
He further clarified that while the NEC can temporarily fill vacancies within its membership between NDC sessions, such replacements are provisional and must be ratified at the next NDC.
The MP also highlighted the constitutional process for selecting a party leader, noting that anyone aspiring to the position must formally apply to the National Elections Board.
According to Owino, this procedure ensures that leadership changes remain transparent and in line with party rules—a step he says was bypassed in Oburu Odinga’s appointment.
Babu Owino’s intervention comes amid heightened debate over ODM’s internal governance and succession protocols.
His comments are expected to fuel discussions among party members and supporters as the party navigates leadership succession and organizational stability.
With the leadership question now under scrutiny, ODM faces growing pressure to clarify the legitimacy of its internal processes and reassure members of adherence to its constitutional provisions.