Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino has declared that he does not need a party to run for political office, noting that his personal brand is bigger than most parties in Kenya.
Speaking on August 29, the lawmaker asserted that his popularity and political influence stand on their own.
“The name Babu Owino, isn’t it bigger than almost 100% of the the political parties in this country? So, Babu Owino alone is a political party; Babu Owino can be elected without a party,” he noted.
MP Babu Owino says he can secure victory without political party. Photo: Courtesy.
The MP went on to defend his loyalty to the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), insisting that he and other members who voice their views are not rebelling against the party.
“We are not rebelling in ODM, we are not rebels; we are working within the dictates and the principles of the party. And democracy dictates that the majority will have their way, while the minority will have their say. Within ODM, Raila Odinga himself said that you’re allowed to speak, you’re allowed to be democratically correct. Being democratically correct means that those majority let them have their way, and also the minority within ODM also should have their say. And that is what we are trying to do,” he added.
Babu Owino further pointed out that ODM lawmakers who jeered party leader Raila Odinga during a joint parliamentary group meeting with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) are the rebels.
