Embakasi East MP Babu Owino in Kisumu on September 18, 2026/COURTESYEmbakasi East MP Babu Owino has reaffirmed his support for Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna’s presidential ambitions, saying he will not abandon his political ally despite emerging differences within the Linda Mwananchi movement.
Babu said he and Sifuna had gone through difficult moments together and that their political relationship would remain intact as the movement prepares for the 2027 General Election.
“Sifuna ni ndugu yangu, na sitamwacha nyuma kwa sababu mimi ndiye tulianza na yeye,” Babu said.
He was speaking in Central Nyakach, Kisumu County, during the funeral of Jeremiah Kisero, where he joined mourners in paying tribute to the deceased.
Babu said his relationship with Sifuna began when the two were facing challenges within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), adding that they had remained together as their political journey progressed.
“Tulianza naye wakati tulikuwa na shida kwa chama, akiwa amekuwa expelled from ODM. Tukasonga naye from expulsion na sai anaelekea kuwa rais wa Kenya,” he said.
Babu said he would continue supporting Sifuna and would campaign for him as the presidential candidate of the Linda Mwananchi movement.
“Tutakuwa na solidarity. Sasa tutasukuma yeye pale mbele akiwa candidate wetu,” he said.
His remarks come amid an emerging disagreement among Linda Mwananchi leaders over the political party that should serve as the movement’s vehicle for the 2027 election.
Babu has been advocating for a coalition arrangement that would allow Sifuna and other leaders to retain their respective political parties while working under the Linda Mwananchi umbrella.
He said Sifuna leads the Ukombozi Party while he leads the Mwananchi Party, arguing that the two outfits could work together rather than one being forced to take over the movement.
“Akifika huko mbele tutaform coalition ya Linda Mwananchi,” Babu said.
The disagreement over the political vehicle has recently become a major issue within the movement, with Babu backing his party while Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has pushed for Ukombozi People’s Party as the vehicle for Sifuna’s presidential bid.
Babu, however, sought to separate the party question from his relationship with Sifuna, insisting that the two could retain their political identities while pursuing a common presidential candidate.
“We'll start the coalition with Linda Mwananchi because ultimately we must have a big coalition with those in the alternative government,” he said.
Babu said the coalition would then seek support across the country, borrowing from the approach used by the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in building broad political alliances.
His latest remarks come days after he publicly dismissed reports of a fallout with Sifuna and said he would continue mobilising support for the senator in Nairobi.
The MP has also said he will scale down his attendance at some Linda Mwananchi rallies as he concentrates on political mobilisation in Nairobi, which has 85 wards and nearly 2.5 million registered voters.
