Babu Owino Sends Cryptic Message to Winnie Odinga after Being Endorsed to Be ODM DPL

Babu Owino Sends Cryptic Message to Winnie Odinga after Being Endorsed to Be ODM DPL

A fresh political storm is brewing within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) after Embakasi East MP Babu Owino issued a pointed and cryptic message to Winnie Odinga following her endorsement as the party’s fourth deputy leader by Nairobi branch officials.

The endorsement was announced during a meeting in the capital on Tuesday, March 17, led by Nairobi ODM chairperson and Makadara MP George Aladwa. Party leaders said the decision followed weeks of consultations across the county’s 17 constituencies aimed at securing representation for Nairobi in ODM’s top leadership.

Aladwa argued that the vacancy emerged after the death of longtime party leader Raila Odinga in October 2025, which left the county without a voice in the party’s highest decision-making structures.

“Raila Odinga left us with no representative from Nairobi County, and that is why we have held a series of meetings for the last two months to find a replacement,” Aladwa said. “We have all agreed that Winnie Odinga will represent us as the deputy party leader.”

Leadership Transition After Raila’s Death

Following Raila Odinga’s death, the party leadership passed to his elder brother, Oburu Oginga, who now heads the centre-left outfit. ODM currently has three deputy party leaders: Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir, Kisii Governor Simba Arati, and Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi.

Party insiders say adding a fourth deputy from Nairobi is intended to balance regional representation and consolidate support ahead of upcoming political contests.

However, the move has deepened existing rifts within the party, exposing competing factions aligned with different power centres.

Babu Owino’s “Pond and Ocean” Warning

Shortly after the announcement, Babu Owino—who is associated with a dissenting wing of the party—issued a metaphor-laden statement widely interpreted as a warning to Winnie Odinga against aligning with Oburu Oginga’s camp.

“I would like to tell Winnie that she is bigger than the pond. She should join the ocean, and this is where the ocean is,” Owino said, comparing her situation to a turtle that believed its small pond was the largest body of water until it encountered the vast ocean.

Political observers say the analogy suggests Owino believes Winnie would wield greater influence outside the current leadership structure.

Shifting Alliances Within ODM

Winnie Odinga had previously been linked to the faction led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, which has at times clashed with the party’s top leadership. Her acceptance of the endorsement is therefore seen as a potential shift in allegiance toward the mainstream leadership.

Sifuna himself was briefly ousted as secretary-general during a National Executive Council meeting in February but later regained the position after challenging the decision before a tribunal.

Meanwhile, Babu Owino—who has been mentioned as a possible successor to the secretary-general role—has publicly dismissed that prospect, insisting his ambitions lie elsewhere.

Accusations and Counter-Accusations

The internal struggle has been fuelled by mutual accusations among rival camps. Critics of Oburu Oginga’s leadership allege that some party figures are aligning with President William Ruto, while supporters of the leadership accuse dissenters of receiving backing from former president Uhuru Kenyatta.

None of the claims has been independently verified, but they reflect the depth of mistrust within the party.

High Stakes Ahead of Party Conference

The dispute is expected to come to a head during the National Delegates Conference scheduled for March 27, which has been convened by Oburu Oginga’s leadership.

Acting Secretary-General Catherine Omanyo has already published details of the meeting’s agenda and invited participants. However, dissenting factions have dismissed the gathering as illegitimate and threatened to boycott it.

Political analysts warn that the outcome could determine the future direction of one of Kenya’s most influential opposition parties.

For now, Owino’s cryptic remarks have added a new layer of intrigue to an already volatile leadership contest, highlighting the delicate alliances and rivalries shaping ODM’s post-Raila era.

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Babu Owino Sends Cryptic Message to Winnie Odinga after Being Endorsed to Be ODM DPL