Babu Owino Dismisses Claims Gachagua Wants Him Out of Nairobi Governor Race
In a social media post, Babu described the reports as fake news, maintaining that he remains committed to his bid to succeed Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja.
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino dismisses reports that former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua wants him to abandon his Nairobi gubernatorial ambitions and instead contest the Senate seat in the 2027 General Election. Photo: The Star Kenya.
By Robert Mutasi
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has dismissed reports that former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua wants him to abandon his Nairobi gubernatorial ambitions and instead contest the Senate seat in the 2027 General Election.
In a social media post, Babu described the reports as fake news, maintaining that he remains committed to his bid to succeed Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja.
“My unworthy opponents have given up and are now banking on fake news. Hii Nairobi ilienda kitambo sana,” Babu said.
The legislator further suggested that he would not be persuaded to change his political ambitions, declaring that his gubernatorial bid would be a contest between his public identity and his real name, Paul Ongili.
“The Gubernatorial race is between Babu Owino vs Paul Ongili,” he added.
His remarks come amid growing political manoeuvres among opposition leaders seeking to coordinate their candidates ahead of the 2027 General Election. The discussions are part of wider efforts to build a united political front against President William Ruto.
Reports published on October 21 alleged that Gachagua had asked Babu to reconsider his plans to run for Nairobi governor and instead pursue the city’s Senate seat.
According to the reports, the proposal was linked to negotiations over the distribution of elective positions among opposition parties as leaders seek to accommodate competing political ambitions.
The reports further claimed that Gachagua was backing Embakasi North MP James Gakuya for the Nairobi governor position on a Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) ticket.
Gakuya has also expressed interest in the county’s top seat, potentially setting up a contest with Babu, who has maintained that he intends to run on his Mwananchi Party ticket.
Babu has previously defended his decision to use the Mwananchi Party, arguing that having his own political outfit would help him secure support from Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) aligned with his agenda in the Nairobi County Assembly.
His position could complicate attempts by opposition leaders to agree on a common candidate for the Nairobi gubernatorial race, particularly if several parties insist on fielding their own aspirants.
Nairobi is expected to be a key battleground in the 2027 elections because of its large electorate and political influence. The governor’s seat is likely to attract intense competition as aspirants seek to build alliances, mobilise supporters and strengthen their political networks.
For now, Babu’s latest remarks indicate that he intends to remain in the gubernatorial contest despite reports of efforts to persuade him to pursue a different seat.
Whether opposition leaders will reach an agreement on how to share key elective positions remains to be seen as political negotiations continue ahead of the next General Election.
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