Using striking slogans Baada ya Baba ni Babu, Babu Kwa Sababu, and Bila Babu Tabu, the outspoken legislator argued that the time has come for generational transition within ODM. His remarks suggest a growing impatience among some party members who believe ODM must reinvent itself politically and organizationally in the post Raila Odinga era.
Babu’s demand comes at a sensitive moment for the party. Just a day earlier, Senator Oburu Odinga held consultations with ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna and Suna East MP Junet Mohamed, a meeting that has fueled speculation about internal realignments and succession planning within the party’s top leadership.
Although Babu did not directly reference the meeting, his call for an NDC has been interpreted by observers as a direct challenge to the current power centers within ODM. An NDC would open the door to leadership contests, policy direction debates, and potential restructuring outcomes that could significantly alter the party’s internal balance.
Supporters of Babu Owino argue that ODM risks stagnation if it does not embrace younger leaders and fresh ideas, insisting that convening an NDC would give party delegates a democratic platform to decide the future. Critics, however, warn that pushing for leadership changes too aggressively could fracture the party at a time when unity is critical ahead of the 2027 elections.
The timing of the demand has intensified speculation about an emerging power struggle, especially with figures like Sifuna, Junet, and Oburu Odinga increasingly visible in behind the scenes engagements. Whether these developments signal coordinated succession planning or competing ambitions remains unclear.
What is evident, however, is that ODM is entering a new phase of internal contestation. With calls for an NDC now public and increasingly vocal, the party may soon be forced to confront difficult questions about leadership, legacy, and its direction in Kenya’s evolving political landscape.
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