Babu stirs ODM pot with threat to call for a parallel NDC

Babu Owino speaking during the mass service at Nyawango School in Homabay. [Michael Mute, Standard]

The wrangles within the Orange Democratic Movement have taken a fresh twist even as calls for a National Delegates Conference from leaders across board, intensify.

In a development that could further sow discord within ODM, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino yesterday threatened to call for a parallel NDC - where he would be declared party leader - should an alleged ploy to block him from the Nairobi gubernatorial race be actioned by agents within his party.

Owino accused ODM’s old guard of engineering a plan to deny him the party ticket by simply “stringing him along” until the crafting of a union between UDA and ODM was finalised and the seat reserved for UDA.

“They want to string me along, promising me the party ticket only to change four months to election and say they have crafted an arrangement with UDA in which the Nairobi gubernatorial seat is reserved for UDA,” Owino said.

While justifying his staking of a claim to party leadership, the lawmaker said it would be the only way he would be assured of getting a ticket. “This similar strategy was used against Tim Wanyonyi, and for this reason I am keen on becoming the ODM party leader so that I sign my own ticket.”

He also claimed a plot had been hatched by unnamed individuals to only invite delegates from “favourable” regions to the NDC, to participate in the party leaders’ elections.

At the same time, the Ramogi professional caucus pressed a unity call within the ODM party, further calling for the immediate implementation of the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report. They want the 10-Point agenda agreement implemented before 2027 lest it is overshadowed by current political developments.

“We, as professionals from Nyanza, are concerned that critical issues such as the implementation of the 10-Point Agenda, which will ensure that those whose rights were violated are compensated, must not be ignored,” said Communications specialist Fred Okang’o.

The professionals, while reiterating that the pact signed between President William Ruto and the late Raila Odinga post the 2022 elections was aimed at ensuring national unity, emphasized that it was the silver bullet in addressing perennial governance challenges.  

Notably, key among the 10-point agenda was the implementation of the Nadco report.