Babu Owino, the vocal MP who says the opposition is asleep
Embakasi East Member of Parliament (MP) Paul Ongili Owino, popularly known as Babu Owino, is undoubtedly one of Kenya’s young lawmakers who attracts crowds wherever he goes.
Since his days as a student leader on the campus of the University of Nairobi (UoN), Babu Owino has not been shy about speaking his mind.
As Kenya’s political landscape changes, especially with the apparent exit of long-time opposition leader and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga, Babu Owino says he is ready to fill Odinga’s shoes.
True to his word, the young legislator is in the process of forming a movement that he says will hold the President William Ruto-led government to account for its unfulfilled promises.
Team Ground, the ODM-affiliated MP, says: “The movement is aimed at pushing the government to its limit – to ensure that it gives Kenyans what it promised.”
The movement, also includes a member of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party, Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba.
According to Babu Owino, the pro-government lawmaker belongs to the school of objectivity and knows that Kenyans are being oppressed.
“She is objective, rational and wants the best for her people,” he praised her.
The lawmaker, who is serving his second term and is a close ally of Mr Raila Odinga, claims that the opposition is reluctant to do its duty.
Even as President Ruto says he has revived the economy, which he has consistently claimed to have found in limbo, the vocal MP says the ever-increasing cost of living is a result of an opposition that is not doing its rightful duty.
“There is laxity in the opposition. The media is also in the opposition and as the opposition, we have to do our duty which is to keep the government in check and ensure that it fulfils its promises to Kenyans,” Babu Owino said in a video obtained by Nairobi News.
“I am a loyal MP to my party, ODM, and to my leader, Raila Amollo Odinga, who is now seeking the chairmanship of the African Union Commission (AUC),” he insisted.
As the nationwide doctors’ strike continues, Babu Owino says it shows that Kenya’s opposition appears to be asleep at the switch.
“Issues like the doctors’ strike – no one is coming out to fight for them. It is not fair that doctors are working and not being paid.”
Even as Team Ground appears to be playing its cards close to the vest, Babu Owino believes he will fill the opposition position he claims is “vacant”.
He says it is only a matter of time before he becomes Kenya’s president.