ODM MP Explains Why Babu Owino, Sifuna Maintain Opposition Stance
Millie Odhiambo, a Suba North Member of Parliament, has come out to defend Babu Owino, a Member of Parliament from Embakasi East, and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna.
This is because the two appear to be controversial figures within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
Odhiambo noted on Monday, November 17, that the two leaders had to acclimate to the city’s politics, which she considered to be extremely volatile, because they were situated in an urban region.
The ODM MP added that while the two leaders were not necessarily revolting against ODM, their political bases also urge them to preserve their interests at the same time, as in Nairobi, politics is ‘oppositionist in character’.
“What is the position of the people whose voters are primarily in Nairobi? What is the position of Babu and Sifuna? Is Nairobi predominantly broad-based?” she posed.
Millie Odhiambo, Suba North MP: We will not support the broad-based government to be village elders or be rewarded with cabinet slots. ODM is a big political party. #FixingTheNationNTV @nationfmke @ericlatiff @mariambishar @officialjmbugua pic.twitter.com/oF1hdO6Yvs
— NTV Kenya (@ntvkenya) November 17, 2025
“Of course not, which is very normal in urban politics anywhere in the world; they are usually very oppositionist in nature.”
She added, “For me, I can go to Suba and say I am broad-based and talk to people of Suba North to follow me in broad-based, but Nairobi is a totally different dynamic.”
“That is why I am very understanding of Sifuna and Babu when people attack them and say, ‘Why don’t you follow this direction?. In politics, people look out also for their own interests.”
Babu Owino’s future in ODM has been the topic of the most speculation, owing to his outspoken nature and personality.
During the ODM at 20 celebrations, the lawmaker boldly challenged the ODM leadership, claiming that he was equally capable of administering the political organization as party leader.
Furthermore, despite signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ODM, Babu Owino has been a harsh critic of the Kenya Kwanza government.
He has also promised to remember the late Raila Odinga by resuming calls for protests if the government fails to prioritize Kenyans in its policies.
Sifuna’s position as ODM Secretary General has also been called into doubt as a result of his failure to cooperate with the government.
As late as October 30, Sifuna advised ODM members to avoid using the word “broad-based” to describe the party’s relationship with the government.
According to Odhiambo, Kenyan politics has yet to fully change, and ethnicity remains an integral factor, even in urban areas.
“Let us also be realistic about the nature of our politics in Kenya; it is very ethnic, and you would want to hope that in urban places like Nairobi, it is not, but it is,” she added.
Sifuna and Owino also made their position clear by missing a joint ODM and UDA parliamentary group meeting at the KCB Leadership Centre in Karen, which was chaired by the President.
ODM MP Explains Why Babu Owino, Sifuna Maintain Opposition Stance
