Nairobi, Kenya – July 18, 2025 — Lang’ata MP Felix Odiwuor, widely known as Jalang’o, has publicly thrown his support behind Embakasi East MP Babu Owino for the Nairobi gubernatorial race in the upcoming 2027 general election.
Speaking on Radio Maisha during an interview with Alex Mwakideu, Jalang’o said Babu Owino is the strongest contender for the city’s top seat and could win with or without the ODM party ticket.
“If Babu Owino is given the ODM ticket, he will be the Nairobi governor. If he is not given, he will cause a lot of trouble for the other candidates,” Jalang’o said.
Jalang’o Hints at One-Term Deal
In a bold political reveal, Jalang’o suggested that he and Babu have struck a strategic political deal that may see Babu serve only one term before stepping aside.
“I am preparing you for Babu Owino’s leadership as Nairobi governor. I know he is coming to serve one term, and after that, he will hand it over to me as he moves higher,” said Jalang’o.
This potential partnership adds a new dynamic to Nairobi’s already competitive political environment, especially within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
Internal Competition Could Hurt ODM
Jalang’o warned that if multiple ODM heavyweights run — such as Edwin Sifuna, Tim Wanyonyi, and Babu Owino — the party risks splitting its core vote, weakening its chances in Nairobi.
“Politics, at a certain level, is tribal. If Sifuna, Wanyonyi and Babu all run, they will cancel each other out,” he cautioned.
Such an outcome, he warned, could open the door for a Mount Kenya candidate to capture Nairobi, a symbolically significant seat in national politics.
Babu Owino’s Rise in ODM
Known for his youthful base and bold reform proposals, Babu Owino has steadily built influence within ODM. He’s advocated for reforms in education and policing, while earning loyalty among Nairobi’s urban youth voters.
Learn more about Babu’s record on his official Parliament of Kenya profile.
What’s Next for Nairobi?
As Nairobi remains a key electoral battleground, ODM must balance loyalty, electability, and ethnic representation to retain control of the capital.
The party’s nominations, often marred by protests and factionalism, will determine whether it presents a united front or suffers another major internal collapse.
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