Suba North Member of Parliament Millie Odhiambo has offered insights into why Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino are not aligned with President William Ruto’s broad-based government.
Speaking on Monday, November 17, 2025, Millie highlighted that opposition politics dominates urban centers like Nairobi, shaping the stance of local leaders. “But what is the situation of the people whose voters are primarily in Nairobi? What is the position of Babu? What is the position of Sifuna? Is Nairobi predominantly broad-based? Of course not, which is very normal with urban politics anywhere in the world,” she explained.
Millie emphasized that their reluctance to align with the government is partly a reflection of Nairobi’s political landscape, where opposition support is strong. She also noted that political self-interest plays a role. “When people attack them and they say, Why don’t you follow this direction? In politics, people also look out for their own interests,” she added.
Her remarks echoed comments by Migori Senator Eddy Oketch, who earlier suggested that Babu Owino and Edwin Sifuna’s political ambitions are influenced by personal gain rather than public service. During a TV interview in September, Oketch claimed that the two leaders are affected by the “Sakaja effect,” implying they aim to emulate Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja’s political trajectory.
Oketch further accused Babu Owino of seeking an alternative path to run for Nairobi Governor in 2027, anticipating that ODM may not grant him the party ticket. “Babu wants to vie for the governor of Nairobi, and he has said it a number of times that he doesn’t believe that ODM will give him a ticket to run on in 2027; therefore, this is his excuse for mischief to get out and find a way of vying without ODM,” he said.
Millie’s explanation highlights the intersection of urban political dynamics and personal political ambitions, shedding light on why high-profile Nairobi leaders may distance themselves from broad-based government initiatives.
