The political relationship between Embakasi East MP Babu Owino and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna’s Linda Mwananchi movement is increasingly showing signs of strain, with an emerging power struggle threatening to derail efforts to bring the two leaders under one political outfit.
Babu Owino, who has his own political vehicle, the Mwananchi Party, is increasingly isolated in Linda Mwananchi and has resolved to concentrate on building his own party.
Despite calls for Babu and Sifuna to unite under a single party, the Embakasi East MP resisted calls of not forming his own party.
That decision placed him at odds with sections of Sifuna’s political allies, who appeared uncomfortable with his independent political ambitions.
The tension became particularly visible during last week’s launch of Linda Mwananchi headquarters, where Babu was not initially accorded a formal opportunity to address the gathering. It took pressure from the crowd, which demanded that he be given the microphone, for him to speak.
His discomfort was further heightened by the decision to give his political opponent, Tony Gachoka, a platform at the event. Babu was reportedly agitated after finding Gachoka at the venue.
A similar incident unfolded during the Linda Mwananchi rally in Kwale, where Babu again appeared to receive little consideration from the movement’s organisers. Godfrey Osotsi was forced by members of the public to give the Embakasi East MP an opportunity to address the gathering. During the rally, Osotsi recognized Tony Gachoka as Linda Mwananchi’s Nairobi gubernatorial candidate.
Behind these public incidents is an increasingly complicated power struggle involving Sifuna’s allies from Western Kenya and sections of the Mt Kenya political establishment aligned with DCP.
Babu’s political ambitions are also complicating Sifuna’s engagement with DCP in Nairobi. Sifuna has been told by Rigathi Gachagua that if he wants the backing of DCP in the capital, he must throw his weight behind James Gakuya, the DCP candidate for Nairobi governor.
Taken together, the developments have left Babu and his supporters increasingly frustrated with Linda Mwananchi.
Rather than continue fighting for recognition within a political formation whose internal power structures appear to be working against him, Babu is now turning his attention to popularising the Mwananchi Party.
