By K47 Digital News | Nairobi, Kenya — October 25, 2025
Calls are growing for youthful political leaders Babu Owino and Edwin Sifuna to break away from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and establish their own political party following the death of ODM leader Raila Amolo Odinga.
Speaking on Spice FM’s morning show, The Situation Room, nominated senator Gloria Orwoba suggested that both the Embakasi East MP and the Nairobi Senator have built strong individual brands that could easily attract thousands of followers if they formed a new political outfit.
“For leaders like Sifuna and Babu Owino, it’s hard to convince ODM members to leave the broad-based arrangement. They have strong personal brands. If Babu Owino started his own party, it would gain massive membership within two weeks,” Orwoba said during the live broadcast.
Her remarks, which were aired alongside hosts Dennis Aseto and Ndu Okoh, have sparked debate across the political scene, with many Kenyans questioning whether the ODM party can survive without its long-time leader, Raila Odinga.
The death of Raila Odinga, a towering figure in Kenya’s opposition politics, has left a leadership vacuum within ODM. Insiders say that internal divisions have begun to emerge, particularly over whether to continue working with President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza administration under the current broad-based government arrangement.
According to political analysts, Sifuna and Owino represent a younger, more vocal generation of politicians who have often clashed with senior ODM members aligned with government cooperation. Their calls for the party to remain independent and field its own presidential candidate in 2027 have reportedly put them at odds with ODM veterans who favor collaboration with Ruto’s administration.
ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna recently insisted that the late Raila Odinga had envisioned ODM remaining politically active and competitive ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Raila wanted ODM to stand strong, to have its own voice, and to field a candidate in the next polls,” Sifuna stated earlier this week.
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, known for his youthful energy and vocal defense of Odinga’s legacy, has also hinted in recent weeks that he would not support ODM joining any government that compromises its founding principles.
Political observers say Orwoba’s remarks could ignite a new movement among Kenya’s younger electorate, especially urban voters who resonate with Babu Owino’s populist approach and Sifuna’s progressive politics.
If the two decide to heed the call and launch their own party, it could significantly alter Kenya’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections, potentially drawing support away from both ODM and Kenya Kwanza.
As the country mourns Raila Odinga’s passing, the question now remains: will Sifuna and Babu Owino carry forward his legacy under ODM — or will they chart a bold new path of their own?
