Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has offered his most revealing account yet of the political disagreements that led to his departure from Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna’s Linda Mwananchi Movement, exposing what appears to have been a breakdown of an earlier agreement on sharing leadership responsibilities.
In an interview with K24 TV on Friday, November 13, 2026, the legislator claimed that he and Sifuna had initially agreed on a political arrangement that would accommodate their respective ambitions as they prepared to leave the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and establish a new political platform.
Under the alleged arrangement, Sifuna would pursue the presidency in the 2027 General Election, while Babu would take charge of the party as its leader.
The MP said the proposal had the backing of other politicians who were involved in discussions about leaving ODM and establishing an alternative political formation.
However, he claimed that the understanding changed after the group left the Orange party, with some members reportedly pushing for Sifuna to assume both the presidential candidature and leadership of the political outfit.
Babu questioned why the original arrangement was abandoned without what he described as adequate consultation, arguing that the proposed structure had been designed to give both politicians room to advance their political careers.
“Initially, we had agreed with Sifuna and other members that the moment we get the party out, Sifuna was to be the presidential candidate and I was to be the party leader, but things changed. I also don’t know how things changed,” he said.
The revelations provide fresh insight into the internal disagreements surrounding the formation of Linda Mwananchi, suggesting that the fallout involved more than differences over political messaging or party affiliation.
At its centre was reportedly a question of who would control the political machinery of the new outfit and how leadership positions would be distributed among its influential founders.
The battle over party leadership
Explaining the thinking behind the original arrangement, Babu said the intention was to prevent either politician from dominating the emerging political organisation at the expense of the other.
He argued that Sifuna’s presidential ambitions and his own political interests could coexist if the party adopted a leadership structure that separated the presidential candidate from the person controlling the party.
According to the MP, the proposed arrangement was based on the understanding that both leaders needed independent political space to grow.
He took issue with suggestions reportedly made during subsequent discussions that whoever sought the presidency should automatically become the party leader.
Babu maintained that there was no constitutional or political necessity for the two positions to be held by the same individual.
He argued that allowing Sifuna to pursue the presidency while he controlled the party would have created a balance of responsibilities within the organisation.
“Some were saying that a presidential candidate cannot fail to be a party leader. But we said that we needed to both of us grow. Both of us had to grow,” he explained.
His account suggests that the disagreement was not necessarily about Sifuna’s presidential ambitions but about the concentration of political authority within the movement.
For Babu, the party leadership position was not merely an honorary title but an influential office that would provide him with a degree of independence in determining the organisation’s direction.
The party leader would potentially have a significant role in organisational decisions, internal appointments, nominations and political strategy.
Consequently, surrendering that position while another individual pursued the presidency would, in his view, leave him vulnerable to political uncertainties.
Gachagua’s impeachment provides Babu’s political lesson
In defending his decision to pursue an independent political platform, Babu invoked the impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, arguing that politicians should not rely entirely on personal relationships or political alliances for their security.
He suggested that Gachagua’s experience demonstrated the risks of occupying powerful government positions without having an independent political structure to protect one’s interests.
The Embakasi East legislator recalled Gachagua’s remarks about the importance of having his own political party, arguing that an independent organisation could provide political leverage when relationships within government deteriorate.
“You remember Gachagua? He said clearly that if he had had his own political party, he would have never been impeached,” Babu observed.
The reference was significant because Gachagua’s removal from office in October 2024 exposed the fragility of political alliances, even among leaders who had jointly campaigned and secured the country’s highest executive offices.
Babu’s argument was that politicians should learn from such experiences rather than assume that friendships and political agreements will remain intact after gaining power.
He appeared particularly concerned about the possibility of Sifuna becoming President while retaining control of the political organisation that had facilitated his rise.
In Babu’s assessment, separating the two positions would have created a mechanism through which the party could retain its institutional independence.
He also suggested that political structures should be designed to accommodate competing interests instead of allowing one individual to accumulate excessive influence.
Babu dismisses rivalry claims, says he wants Nairobi governorship
Despite revealing the alleged disagreement over party leadership, Babu was keen to dismiss suggestions that he and Sifuna had become political rivals.
He maintained that their ambitions were fundamentally different, making direct competition unnecessary.
According to the legislator, Sifuna was interested in the presidency while he was preparing to pursue the Nairobi gubernatorial seat in the 2027 elections.
“There can’t be competition between Babu and Sifuna. Sifuna is going for president, Babu is going for governor,” he said.
He argued that their political paths could complement rather than undermine each other, provided the two leaders respected their respective ambitions.
Babu suggested that conflict would only become inevitable if both politicians sought the same elective position.
His declaration is important because it indicates that his departure from Linda Mwananchi should not necessarily be interpreted as an abandonment of Sifuna’s presidential ambitions.
Rather, he appears determined to establish an independent political foundation from which he can pursue his own gubernatorial ambitions while maintaining support for Sifuna’s national political project.
The position, however, raises another question about whether the two leaders can maintain political cooperation after the breakdown of the alleged leadership arrangement.
From Linda Mwananchi to Mwananchi Party
Babu’s latest revelations follow his departure from the Linda Mwananchi political formation and subsequent association with Muungano Party, which was later rebranded as the Mwananchi Party.
His exit came as Sifuna pursued a separate political vehicle after his fallout with sections of ODM.
Initially, Sifuna had attempted to establish Linda Mwananchi as an independent political party but encountered registration-related challenges.
He subsequently joined The Equitable Party (TEP), which provided an existing political platform through which the movement could pursue its ambitions.
On November 13, 2026, delegates endorsed the transformation of The Equitable Party into the Linda Mwananchi Movement during a National Delegates Conference in Nairobi.
The rebranding provided Sifuna with a formal political vehicle as he positioned himself for a possible presidential campaign in 2027.
Babu’s departure, therefore, came at a particularly sensitive moment when the movement was seeking to consolidate its structures and present itself as a credible alternative to established political parties.
The timing also exposed the difficulties associated with building a political organisation around leaders with different electoral ambitions.
While Sifuna was increasingly being associated with the presidency, Babu wanted an organisational position that would guarantee him independent political influence.Citizen Digital+2
‘Politics is about interest, not friendship’
Perhaps the most striking part of Babu’s interview was his blunt assessment of the role of trust in political partnerships.
The MP dismissed the notion that friendship should be the foundation of political cooperation, insisting that leaders should instead negotiate clearly defined interests and responsibilities.
He argued that political agreements should be judged by whether they serve the interests of the people and whether the parties involved honour their commitments.
“Politics is not about trust. Politics is about interest. Put the interest on the table. How will wananchi benefit? That is the first interest that is served on the table,” he said.
In an unusually candid admission, Babu said he did not necessarily trust his political friends, arguing that personal relationships should not be confused with the practical realities of political competition.
“I don’t trust my friends. I get friends. I have a wife who will give me friends. I don’t trust friends in politics,” he remarked.
His comments suggest a political philosophy built around negotiated interests, institutional safeguards and clearly defined responsibilities rather than personal loyalty.
He maintained that political partnerships should have mechanisms for protecting the interests of all participants, especially when power and leadership positions are involved.
He also challenged politicians to prioritise the promises they make to voters, arguing that the ultimate responsibility of political organisations should be delivering public benefits.
This position could resonate with voters frustrated by political alliances that are often formed around personalities and electoral calculations but collapse over disagreements about positions.
However, it also places pressure on Babu and other emerging political leaders to demonstrate that their own political arrangements are guided by the public interest they invoke.
Sifuna’s presidential ambitions face an organisational test
The disagreement presents an early test for Sifuna as he attempts to transform Linda Mwananchi from a political mobilisation platform into a nationally competitive organisation.
The Nairobi senator has built considerable visibility through his outspoken opposition politics and messaging around accountability, governance and the economic challenges facing ordinary Kenyans.
His emergence as a potential presidential contender has attracted attention among sections of the opposition, particularly younger voters seeking a different political leadership model.
However, Babu’s account exposes the organisational challenges that could accompany that ambition.
A political movement seeking to challenge an incumbent president must balance individual ambitions, establish internal decision-making mechanisms and maintain confidence among its founding members.
The alleged disagreement over whether Sifuna should control both the party and presidential campaign raises questions about how the movement intends to distribute authority.
It also highlights the importance of establishing clear agreements before political organisations embark on major electoral projects.
For Sifuna, retaining the support of influential figures such as Babu could be important in building a wider political coalition, particularly in Nairobi, where grassroots mobilisation and youth support will be critical.
For Babu, the challenge will be demonstrating that his decision to establish an independent political path is driven by a coherent political strategy rather than a disagreement over personal recognition.
What the fallout means for the 2027 elections
The emerging disagreement comes as opposition politicians struggle to agree on a common presidential candidate and an organisational framework capable of challenging Ruto.
The Linda Mwananchi Movement had been positioning itself as part of the wider opposition realignment, with Sifuna emerging as one of the prominent figures in discussions about a possible alternative presidential candidature.
Babu’s departure introduces another complication into those efforts by exposing differences among politicians who had previously appeared united around a common political project.
Nevertheless, the Embakasi East MP insists that his decision does not amount to a political declaration of war against Sifuna.
His explanation suggests that he wants to pursue his Nairobi gubernatorial ambitions independently while leaving room for cooperation with the senator on national political questions.
Whether that arrangement will hold as the 2027 campaigns intensify remains uncertain.
The biggest challenge for both politicians will be convincing supporters that their separate political vehicles do not undermine the broader objective of building an alternative political leadership.
Ultimately, Babu’s revelations expose a fundamental weakness in Kenya’s coalition politics: political alliances can unite leaders around a common electoral enemy, but disagreements over who controls the party, who makes decisions and who benefits from political power can quickly threaten those partnerships.
For Sifuna, the task is to demonstrate that Linda Mwananchi can accommodate different ambitions without becoming another personality-driven political outfit.
For Babu, the test is whether his Mwananchi Party can provide the political independence he says he needs while building a credible path to City Hall.
The two politicians may insist they are not competing, but their fallout has exposed a difficult question facing the emerging opposition: Can leaders build a genuinely collective political movement when each wants sufficient control over their own political destiny?
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