Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has set the stage for one of the biggest political realignments in Kenya ahead of the 2027 General Election, announcing plans to walk away from the Orange Democratic Movement and launch his own party.
Speaking during recent public engagements, the outspoken lawmaker said the decision followed months of internal friction within ODM, which he accused of drifting away from its founding ideals. According to Babu, the party he once relied on to get into Parliament has “lost its direction,” prompting him and allies to build a new political vehicle under the Linda Mwananchi banner.
Babu confirmed that the new outfit is not just an idea but a registered entity. He told supporters that groundwork for the party is complete and that it will be used as the platform for his 2027 ambitions. “We will appoint the secretary general from the Western region, and our father, James Orengo, will be the party's patron,” Babu said, outlining the early leadership structure of the emerging movement.
The choice of Siaya Governor James Orengo as patron signals an effort to anchor the party with senior political experience. Orengo, a longtime ODM stalwart, has been linked to the Linda Mwananchi faction alongside Babu, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, and other lawmakers who have openly opposed ODM’s cooperation with President William Ruto’s administration. Babu was categorical that he will not run as an independent. “A party is just a vehicle,” he said in a May 4 interview, adding that Linda Mwananchi is “working on something that should propel us forward”. He also ruled out contesting on an ODM ticket, saying “ODM does not exist; sahii tuko na lemon”.
The fallout comes against a backdrop of deep divisions inside ODM. The 20-year-old party is split between two camps. One faction, associated with party leader Oburu Oginga, has backed a working arrangement with the Kenya Kwanza government. The other, Linda Mwananchi, has rejected any alliance with UDA and insists ODM must remain in opposition.
That rift has intensified since the death of founding party leader Raila Odinga on October 15. Several ODM leaders say the absence of a unifying figure has exposed weaknesses in party leadership and nominations, fueling fears of being sidelined in 2027 primaries. Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, also linked to Linda Mwananchi, told the _Nation_ that the reason for leaving is clear: “They already sold their souls to UDA through their conduct and residents can’t differentiate ODM from UDA. They are one and the same thing under William Ruto”.
For Babu, the break is also personal and strategic. He has repeatedly stated “baada ya Baba ni Babu” after Baba comes Babu signaling leadership ambitions beyond his current parliamentary seat. He is now eyeing the Nairobi gubernatorial seat in 2027 under the new party, and has not ruled out a future presidential bid.
Babu is not alone. Reports indicate a wave of defections from ODM as leaders scout for new vehicles ahead of 2027. Among those named as likely to join the Linda Mwananchi party are Edwin Sifuna, ODM Secretary-General and Nairobi Senator; Godfrey Osotsi, Vihiga Senator; Wilberforce Oundo, Funyula MP; Caroli Omondi, Suba South MP; Anthony Kibagendi, Kitutu Chache South MP; Richard Onyonka, Kisii Senator; and Clive Gisairo, Kitutu Masaba MP. Saboti MP Caleb Amisi has already aligned with another outfit, the People’s Renaissance Movement.
ODM’s leadership has taken note. During preparations for the party’s National Delegates Conference on March 27, 2026, Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma said the party would “officially release Orengo, Babu, Sifuna and Osotsi to their Gachagua”, alleging the four had aligned with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. Party insiders say the NDC is meant to restore order and define ODM’s direction ahead of 2027.
Governor Orengo has publicly pushed back on claims that he is leaving ODM. In a March 2026 interview he described Linda Mwananchi as a caucus within ODM, not a separate party. “Let nobody be deluded or lied to that we are moving out of the party. We are part of ODM. We don’t want to form a party. We are members of ODM and will stick to it,” he said. However, Orengo has also warned that a formal coalition with UDA could erode ODM’s popularity, and he has asked hard questions about the party’s 2027 path: “If in 2027 you make Ruto president, where does that leave ODM?”.
That tension captures the broader dilemma facing ODM: whether to co-govern with Kenya Kwanza or return to opposition politics. For Linda Mwananchi leaders, the answer is to build something new rather than stay in what they see as a compromised structure.
Kenya has a history of politicians shifting parties to improve re-election odds. The current exodus is hitting UDA, ODM, Jubilee and DAP-K the hardest. For ODM, losing a group of young, vocal leaders from Nairobi, Western and Nyanza could weaken its grip in traditional strongholds. The party has dominated for the last four general elections, but leaders now cite “dwindling influence” in areas like Gusii and Western.
For Babu’s new party, the immediate test will be mobilization. He says Linda Mwananchi is already “actively mobilising people throughout the country”. Appointing a Secretary General from Western and naming Orengo patron appears designed to give the party both regional balance and national credibility. Babu has framed the move as generational change. “In 2027, we shall have a revolution of courage, meaningful jobs and ideals,” he said during recent rallies. He also argued that youth are mobilized for protests but excluded from power.
Several questions remain. First, how formal is the split? While Babu says he has registered a party, Orengo insists the group is still within ODM. The Registrar of Political Parties will be central to clarifying the legal status. Second, will ODM take disciplinary action? Calls to remove Sifuna and Osotsi from party positions have grown louder, and the March NDC was expected to address leadership structure. Third, can a new party cut through in Nairobi and beyond? Babu’s gubernatorial bid will pit him against established players, and he will need more than Linda Mwananchi rallies to convert support into votes.
What is clear is that Kenyan politics is entering a period of fluid realignment. As one analyst put it, parties are now “just vehicles”, and leaders are shopping for the one that best fits their 2027 ambitions. With Babu Owino declaring he is done with ODM, naming Orengo patron, and promising Western leadership in his secretariat, the Linda Mwananchi project has moved from caucus to contender. Whether it becomes a national force or remains a protest platform will depend on how well it organizes, funds, and sells its message in the next 18 months.
For now, ODM faces its biggest internal challenge in years, and Babu Owino has positioned himself at the center of the rebellion — no longer waiting in line, but building his own line.
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