Babu Owino: I received 9 million messages telling me to vie for president
By Mustafa Juma, January 15, 2026Embakasi East MPBabu Owino has ignited a fresh political debate after revealing that millions of Kenyans have reached out to him, urging him to consider a presidential bid, even as he maintains that his immediate focus remains the Nairobi gubernatorial race.
Speaking during a televised interview on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, alongside Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, Owino said the overwhelming public feedback he has received reflects growing confidence in youthful leadership ahead of the 2027 General Election.
“By God’s grace, I will be the next governor of Nairobi. But again, I will leave a window because I received around nine million messages in my inbox, telling me to go for president, then 8.9 million of them telling me to go for governor,” Owino said.
The outspoken lawmaker disclosed that beyond calls for him to vie for higher office, many Kenyans have also been suggesting a possible political alliance between him and Ndindi Nyoro, including power-sharing arrangements at the highest level.
“Then five million telling me that I ask Ndindi Nyoro to be my deputy. You have also seen messages of people saying that between Ndindi and Babu, Ndindi can be president and Babu deputy, or Babu President and Ndindi deputy,” he added.
Owino, however, was careful to note that no final decision has been made, stressing that discussions on future political formations remain open.
“But at the end of the day, there is still a window that we can decide,” he said.
Youth vote
The Embakasi East MP used the opportunity to underline what he described as the growing power of the youth vote, arguing that a youthful, energetic leadership pairing could fundamentally reshape Kenya’s political landscape.
“If we decide, because we are two great leaders with intellect, political acumen, and passion and energy to work for the people, the youthful vote can finish somebody,” Owino remarked.
His comments come at a time when conversations around generational change in Kenyan politics are gaining momentum, with younger leaders increasingly positioning themselves as alternatives to the traditional political establishment.
Babu Owino ODM takeover
Just a week ago, Babu Owino came out to call for an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) National Delegate Conference (NDC) so that he could take over the leadership of the party.
In a statement posted on his social media handles on Thursday, January 8, 2025, the outspoken lawmaker said he wants an NDC, which is the highest decision-making party organ, to be convened so that he can take over the helm of the party, a position currently held by Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga, who was installed following the passing of the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who led the party since its inception in 2005.
Babu Owino, in his popular phrase “baada ya Baba ni Babu”, exuded confidence in himself, declaring that after the exit of the late former premier, it is his time to take over the leadership of the Orange Party.
According to him, the ODM party, which is currently at loggerheads with top leaders trading blows with each other, will continue to experience chaos without him at the helm.