Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino has thrown his weight behind Kisumu County Women Representative Ruth Odinga after she openly disagreed with her brother, Raila Odinga, on the controversial failed impeachment of Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja.
Taking to his official X account on Friday, September 5, 2025, Babu Owino endorsed Ruth’s sentiments, saying she had perfectly captured his own views. “Hon. Ruth Odinga has said it all. Hakuna kuongeza jambo hapa,” the legislator declared.
Ruth had earlier expressed disappointment that Nairobi Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) were denied the chance to exercise their constitutional mandate. According to her, the impeachment process should have been allowed to proceed as part of oversight responsibilities.
“One of the main tenets of devolution is that MCAs are overseers of the county government,” Ruth said. “Therefore, the fact that the MCAs of Nairobi came out and said they had no confidence in the Governor of Nairobi should have been recognised… To stop the process, when there were already grievances, was very disappointing.”
Her remarks have fueled speculation of a possible split within the Odinga family, as Raila Odinga, together with President William Ruto, intervened to halt Sakaja’s ouster. The two leaders reportedly reined in ODM and UDA MCAs, effectively shielding the governor.
Babu Owino’s support for Ruth comes a day after he criticized Nairobi MCAs for failing to deliver justice to residents. Speaking on Kameme TV, the outspoken MP argued that Sakaja had presided over three years of collapsed service delivery and should not be given more time.
“It is wrong to expect that a governor who has failed for three years can suddenly turn things around in sixty days,” Babu asserted, calling the delay in impeachment a betrayal of citizens.
With the issue now entangled in both political and family dynamics, the fallout from the failed impeachment could have lasting implications for ODM unity and Nairobi politics at large.
