Embakasi East MP Babu Owino speaking during an interview. /SCREENGRAB
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino says his record in Parliament makes him qualified to seek the Nairobi governor's seat in the 2027 General Election.
Babu, who is seeking to succeed Governor Johnson Sakaja, said his performance as an MP demonstrates his ability to provide practical solutions to challenges facing residents.
Speaking during an interview, the two-term legislator said Nairobi residents were primarily interested in service delivery and that his record showed he could deliver if elected governor.
“Nairobi people are looking for service. Can Babu Owino deliver that service? Yes,” he said.
Babu is expected to seek the governor's seat on The Mwananchi Party (TMP) ticket, having been associated with the party after severing ties with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
He said Nairobi's cosmopolitan character meant voters were unlikely to base their choices solely on ethnic considerations, arguing that candidates' records and manifestos would be important parameters in the election.
Babu said his plan for the capital would focus on some of the city's longstanding challenges, including water, waste management, sanitation, healthcare, roads and creating a conducive environment for businesses.
He cited his record in Embakasi East as evidence of what he could deliver if given the opportunity to lead the county.
“Based on what I have done in Embakasi East constituency, I'm 100 per cent sure that Nairobians will not leave Babu Owino because Babu Owino is the best among the rest,” he said.
Babu entered elective politics in 2011 when he was elected chairman of the Student Organisation of Nairobi University (SONU), a position he held for four terms.
He made his first attempt at mainstream electoral politics in 2013 when he contested the ODM primary for the Westlands parliamentary seat but lost to the incumbent, Tim Wanyonyi.
In 2017, Babu was elected Embakasi East MP, marking his entry into national elective politics.
He retained the seat in the August 2022 General Election. His performance in Parliament has subsequently been assessed by various research firms and pollsters, some of which have ranked him among the top-performing MPs.
Babu said his record should be considered when Nairobi residents make their choice in the 2027 election.
“Number two is good, number one is best. You cannot leave best for good,” he said.
On water shortages in Nairobi, Babu proposed increasing the use of available water resources while reducing wastage.
He said the city consumes about 950 million litres of water daily against supply of about 660 million litres, leaving a deficit of approximately 290 million litres.
Babu said the deficit could be addressed partly by adding water from Maragua Dam to supplies from Ndakaini Dam, Kikuyu Springs and Ruiru Dam.
