Manyora predicts easy victory for Babu Owino in Nairobi gubernatorial race under Wiper Party ticket
By Mabonga Makhanu, November 1, 2025Political analyst Herman Manyora has predicted an easy victory for Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, especially if he uses a Wiper Patriotic Party ticket in his Nairobi gubernatorial bid.
Speaking during an interview on his YouTube channel on Saturday, November 1, 2025, Manyora expressed confidence in Babu’s quest for the city’s top seat, saying that if he chooses Wiper as his political vehicle, it will already be a done deal, and Kenyans should simply wait for his swearing-in.
According to Manyora, if Babu runs on a Wiper ticket, he will sweep all Kamba votes, since Nairobi has a large Kamba population resulting from the overflow from neighbouring Kamba counties. This, combined with the strong Luo vote base, makes his victory even more likely.
“I think for Babu Owino, it is agreed generally by all that he is already the governor of Nairobi, unless something drastic happens. Running on Wiper seals the deal and makes it easy. If he joins Wiper, it’s something you don’t even want to talk about; you just wait for his swearing-in,” Manyora said.
This comes at a time when Babu Owino’s growing political bromance with Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka has become more evident. The two have been spotted together on several occasions. Babu has previously stated that since his party, ODM, appears to favour the current Nairobi Governor, who is also his competitor in the 2027 polls, he is considering another political vehicle to propel him to the county’s top seat.
Owino’s bromance with Kalonzo
On his gubernatorial ambitions, Babu Owino had earlier stated that since his former party leader, the late Raila Odinga, chose to support President William Ruto, leaving Kalonzo Musyoka, who had supported him three times, out in the cold, he is now ready to stand with Kalonzo and support him in his 2027 presidential bid.
This development comes days after Saboti MP Caleb Amisi advised Babu during an interview that the only way to win the Nairobi gubernatorial seat is by using either Rigathi Gachagua’s Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) or ODM.
Meanwhile, Siaya Senator and newly appointed ODM Party Leader Oburu Odinga recently dismissed claims that Babu Owino was being pushed out of the party, saying that in 2027, he will be subjected to nominations like any other candidate interested in the position.