CAN BABU OWINO BE RAILA'S SUCCESSOR

Embakasi East M.P Babu Owino is currently the most famous legislator in Kenya. The man has been trending since Sunday 24 September when he allegedly made derogatory remarks towards the presidency.

Any politician, will tell you that publicity is publicity, whether negative or positive. In fact, most politicians bribe journalists to cover their events. And Babu Owino has just managed to divert all cameras to his direction, albeit in the negative, something that even the most seasoned political players in Kenya cannot boast about.

A lot has been said about the October 26th Presidential Elections being Raila Odinga’s last shot. And despite what happens, the former Prime Minister is expected to retire from active politics. But just who will succeed Baba? This is a question that most of the opposition supporters are silently asking themselves but nobody has the answer.

One of the few lessons, I have learned in politics is that power is not given, it comes to those who have the courage to bend down and pick it. The late former Vice President Wamalwa Kijana is regarded as one of the most eloquent politicians in Kenyan history. Wamalwa was the glue that managed to bind the Luhya house together. In 2002, the Luhya community cast all their votes in one basket under the Rainbow Coalition thanks to him.

Unfortunately, Wamalwa passed away eight months into his tenure. Efforts to hand pick his replacement in the Luhya community have terribly failed. The Luhya house is now more disorganized than ever. There are many theories as to why there is no Luhya kingpin. My reason is just that nobody has tried to come out and stake a serious claim for the vacant throne.

Eugene Wamalwa tried and failed because he concentrated so much on being his brother than himself. Musalia Mudavadi has been here for so long that nobody takes him seriously.

2002 also marked the end of an era for then president Moi. Moi had been in power for more than 24 years (he was an Mp and Vice President before taking over from Kenyatta). Many people, including Moi himself thought that he would have the powers to choose his successor. He tried to front Uhuru for the highest office and failed (though Uhuru won the presidency 10 years later.).

Uhuru’s lose in 2002 did not pain Moi as much as the revolution that happened in his Kalenjin backyard. Moi was grooming his son Gideon to take over the baton from him. But a young man by the name William Ruto had other plans. Ruto managed to wrestle the Kalenjin community from Moi’s stranglehold and delivered their votes to Raila Odinga (one of Moi’s greatest enemies) in 2007. This marked a new era for Rift Valley politics. They had a new kingpin.

William Ruto is now the most influential politician in Kenya (after Raila Odinga). Try to go against him and risk your political career. Isaac Rutto and Peter Munya are prove to this. But the man from Sugoi has achieved all these, not because he was fronted by anyone else but he made himself, he saw opportunities and took advantage.

Back to Babu Owino, do you think he is Raila’s successor? My answer would be yes. His story is that of a boy who knew what he wanted and worked towards achieving it from an early age. Babu won more elections in SONU (Student Organisation of Nairobi University) than any other candidate. He therefore has the experience of managing a political campaign.

You may love him or hate him, but that’s just your opinion. The Embakasi Legislator has a way of grabbing the attention of the media without a hustle. At this early age, he has already managed to ire the wrath of central Kenya. Raila has achieved many things, but he has never made people demonstrate in Kiambu. Babu just did that. The demonstrations have just catalyzed his growing popularity.

Mr. Owino coined the slogans ‘Tibim’ and ‘Tialala’ These slogans have become synonymous with the Nasa campaigns. Political slogans can be revolutionary, ignore Mr. Ongili at your own peril.

Even though he is very young politically, Babu is ambitious. He has already set his eyes on the presidency. In Raila Odinga, he has the best teacher ever to help him achieve this.

The Odinga succession battle will start playing itself after October 26 but Babu Owino is already a front runner.

But this is just my opinion!Take it easy.