MP Babu Owino. Photo/Courtesy
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has dismissed claims that he is positioning himself as the next “Luo kingpin,” insisting that his political ambitions are national.
Speaking during a Citizen TV interview on Wednesday night, Owino cited a recent Infotrak poll that placed him as the most popular figure in Nyanza, a result he said has unsettled senior leaders within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
“You saw the numbers, and numbers never lie… we were at 33%, followed by my father Dr. Oburu Oginga at 10%, Gladys Wanga at 7%, and the rest at 1%,” Owino said.
He added that some party officials were “so scared” by the outcome.
Owino clarified that his focus is not on regional dominance.
“Leave the Luo kingpin aside, I want to be a national kingpin, a Kenyan kingpin,” he said, emphasizing his goal of appealing to voters across the country rather than consolidating influence within his ethnic base.
The MP’s remarks come amid ongoing speculation about ODM’s future leadership following the death of Raila Odinga.
By highlighting his national ambitions, Owino seeks to position himself as a leader capable of uniting voters from across Kenya.
Through the interview, Owino underlined that his political identity is centered on nationwide influence, aiming to engage young voters and broader constituencies while navigating the party’s internal tensions between the older leadership and emerging figures.
His comments signal a clear intent to expand his role in Kenyan politics beyond Nyanza, asserting that his vision is about national leadership rather than ethnic or regional dominance.