A majority of Linda Mwananchi top guns are gravitating towards Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna over the choice of political vehicle the group should use in the 2027 elections.
The move is likely to leave Embakasi East MP Babu Owino isolated as he fights to unseat Governor Johnson Sakaja from City Hall.
Babu has emerged as the most vocal opponent of the push to use Ukombozi People’s Party as the movement’s electoral vehicle.
The vocal MP insist that his Mwananchi Party had initially been settled on before Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya brought in Ukombozi Party at the last minute.
So far, Natembeya, Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, Kabuchai MP Majimbo Kalasinga have all sided with Sifuna.
Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka has also given hints he backs Sifuna while remaining optimistic the differences can be sorted.
"We are talking to the younger politicians, and we are telling them to learn from our mistakes,” Onyonka said during an interview on Radio Generation on Thursday.
“As Babu Owino is rising higher in office, people are now realising that he has to move to a steady ship and not be a rabble-rouser. Babu can wait.”
Many other leaders have remained tight lipped but most Western Kenya leaders are said to back having their own political vehicle.
Only Saboti MP Caleb Amisi who has since decamped from the team has been backing Babu.
Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, for instance, openly described himself as a strong Sifuna supporter while urging Babu to tone down his criticism.
“The Gen Z, who at the beginning told us that they were leaderless and partyless, have found a leader in Sifuna and have found a party in Linda Mwananchi, which was created by Sifuna, Babu, Orengo and the other MPs who are well known,” Khalwale told the Star.
The ‘bullfighter’ went further warning that it will be suicidal for Babu to walkout from the arrangement, a situation he noted may cost him his Nairobi gubernatorial ambitions.
“Now, people will say, what do I think about Babu? Babu can only win Nairobi if he is a member of Linda Mwananchi,” Khalwale said.
“But if he attempts an experiment outside Linda Mwananchi, his campaign becomes harder and the possibility of a loss becomes more probable.”
“So, my advice to him is that you don't always have to agree with everybody and everything. In politics, there is nothing like the right opinion.”
According to Onyonka, the young people in Linda Mwanchi are having challenges managing the overwhelming success the team has received.
He revealed that they have been quietly managing a crisis within the team behind the scenes.
“All the principals had gone and registered their own political parties, except me,” Onyonka said, but exuded confidence that the crisis can be resolved.
Kabuchai MP Majimbo Kalasinga has also doubted Babu’s moves questioning why the two-term lawmaker is not keen on handing over his party to Sifuna.
“Why can’t Babu allow Sifuna to be the party leader of his party if he truly supports him for presidency? Posed Kalasinga, a close confidant of the Nairobi senator.
Natembeya has been categorical that Ukombozi is the vehicle that will carry Sifuna’s presidential bid, declaring that the party and the senator would be the ones ‘saving this country’.
“Ukombozi People’s Party and Sifuna will be the one saving this country,” Natembeya fired minutes after Babu’s address.
Babu, unwilling to fold his party into another outfit, has instead proposed a coalition arrangement that would allow the various parties within Linda Mwananchi to retain their identities while working together.
“If we want to be genuine with ourselves, we must have a coalition which covers various interests,” Babu said.
The youthful MP also vowed to scale down involvement in the Linda Mwananchi rallies as he shifts focus to his Nairobi gubernatorial bid.
The demand now appears to have left the Embakasi East MP largely on his own within the movement.
Onyonka disclosed that old hands in the movement are making efforts to coach the younger political firebrands to ensure that Linda Mwananchi remains intact.
The senator revealed internal mechanism have been employed to ensure the fallout is contained.
"We will try and work on Babu, his relationship with Sifuna. They do not have a fight it’s the people making noise. We are working on their relationship," Onyoka said.
On Wednesday, Vihiga Senator Godffrey Osotsi held a meeting with Babu as part of the internal dispute resolution mechanisms.
“I had a fruitful meeting with my younger brother and incoming Nairobi Governor, Hon. Babu Owino, where we discussed matters concerning Linda Mwananchi. Our detractors will not succeed. We remain united and committed to the cause,” Osotsi said after the meeting.
A number of the movement’s bigwigs have however remained publicly silent on the disagreement, avoiding taking sides as efforts continue to contain the fallout.
But among those who have broken ranks with the silence, there has so far been no senior figure willing to publicly endorse Babu’s demand for a coalition arrangement.
Siaya Governor James Orengo, MPs Jack Wamboka (Bumula), Obadiah Barongo (Bomachoge Borabu), Antony Kibagendi (Kitutu Chache South), Danson Washako (Wundanyi), Oundo Midenyo (Funyula) and Caroli Omondi (Suba South) are among top Linda Mwananchi leaders who have avoided the topic.
While majority's silence leaves room for behind-the-scenes negotiations, the absence of an influential Linda Mwananchi leader openly backing Babu has exposed the Embakasi East MP as the lone prominent voice.
This has left Babu facing a delicate political balancing act with Sifuna’s allies appearing increasingly settled around Ukombozi as the vehicle for the presidential campaign.
