The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has announced plans to contest the Nairobi gubernatorial race in 2027, serve for a single term, and then pursue the presidency in 2032.
Speaking during an interview with Radio Jambo on Wednesday, Babu said his political ambitions had been mapped out years ago while he was a student at the University of Nairobi. He said his plan involved serving as an MP for two terms before becoming Nairobi governor and eventually running for president.
“I knew in 2017 I would be a Member of Parliament, go for two terms, 2017 and 2022. Then I go for governor in 2027, then 2032,” he said.
Babu said he had shared his proposal for leaders to serve single terms with politicians associated with the Linda Mwananchi and United Opposition formations. Under the arrangement, he said, leaders would serve one term in elective positions before backing a single candidate for the presidency.
According to Babu, such an approach would encourage politicians to look beyond individual positions and work towards a common presidential candidate.
“Mimi mwenyewe nitaenda rais 2032. 2027 nimewachana nayo,” he said, making it clear that he does not intend to run for president in 2027.
He also argued that governors should consider limiting themselves to one term so they can concentrate on service delivery instead of spending much of their second term campaigning for re-election.
Babu further defended his performance as Embakasi East MP, saying he had made use of the resources available to him to improve services and infrastructure in the constituency.
He pointed to several road projects in Mihango Ward and other areas of Embakasi East, including Kigwada Road, which he said connects towards Kayole, Shooters-Gesora Junction Road, Alinga Road, St Michael’s Road in Choka, Chok Road, and the route connecting Mihango Primary through Assumption School to Roffin School and Kangundo Road.
He also highlighted his legislative record, challenging other elected leaders to demonstrate the bills and laws they had helped advance for the benefit of their constituents.
On allegations of corruption, Babu maintained that he had not seen any audit report accusing him of misappropriating public resources in Embakasi East.
“Na Embakasi East nimefanya kazi. Hujaisikia any audit report ya kwamba Babu amepora mali ya Wakenya,” he said.
He also pointed to his bursary programme as another achievement, saying beneficiaries could directly attest to the support they had received.
Babu invoked the biblical parable of the talents to explain his view that leaders should make the best use of the resources entrusted to them.
He said public officials should ultimately be judged by how effectively they use public resources to improve the lives of citizens.
