NAIROBI, Kenya — Embakasi East legislator Babu Owino has been named Kenya’s best performing Member of Parliament (MP) for the second year in a row, consolidating his standing in national leadership rankings and performance surveys.
The recognition was conferred on Thursday evening (April 2, 2026) at the Politrack Africa Starleaders Awards held at the Serena Hotel in Nairobi. The awards assess political and public leaders based on leadership performance, service delivery, innovation, public impact and accountability.
This latest accolade follows a similar recognition by the same entity in April last year, underscoring Mr Owino’s continued visibility in national performance‑based assessments.
In February 2025, he was also ranked the top performing MP in a countrywide survey conducted by Infotrak Research, securing a 72 per cent overall approval rating in the Countrytrak Performance Index.
Speaking on Friday, shortly after receiving the award, his third in the same category from two different evaluators in two years, Mr Owino described the recognition as a collective achievement and reaffirmed his focus on public service.
“Last night at Serena Hotel, I was deeply honored to be recognized as the Best Member of Parliament in Kenya. This achievement is not mine alone, it belongs to the people I serve, whose trust and support continue to inspire my work every day,” he said.
“My performance track record reflects a shared commitment to progress, accountability, and meaningful service. I remain dedicated to advancing the needs of our communities and delivering results that improve lives.”
He added: “Leadership is not about titles, power, or positions, it is about service. And I will continue to serve with integrity, humility, and unwavering focus on the people.”
In the Starleaders Awards’ legislative rankings, Mr Owino topped the list with a 68.4 per cent rating, narrowly edging out his colleagues; Nabii Nabwera (Lugari) and Patrick Makau (Mavoko) — both of whom received 67.7 per cent approval scores. Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, previously ranked second by Infotrak, placed third at 65.2 per cent, tied with Kuria Kimani (Molo) and Githua Wamacukuru (Kabete).
Political analysts say the continued recognition solidifies Owino’s profile not only within Nairobi County but across the country, especially among younger voters and urban constituencies who prioritise service delivery and public accountability.
Mr Owino’s rising visibility comes at a time of heightened political activity ahead of the 2027 General Election, with emerging leadership debates within major parties and growing grassroots civic engagement.
In late March 2026, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) announced Dr Oburu Odinga as its new party leader, a development that has triggered widespread commentary within political circles and could impact future alliances ahead of the next polls.
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In addition to his performance awards, Mr Owino was previously recognised at the 2025 Africa Golden Awards as the Top Influential Youth African Leader, acknowledging his broader influence beyond parliamentary performance.
Locally, he has remained vocal on issues affecting his constituents, recently condemning the demolition of structures at Gikomba Market, which he described as unlawful and in defiance of court orders.
For voters, civil society and political watchers, Mr Owino’s back‑to‑back performance rankings by professional survey organisations and award bodies place him among Kenya’s most visible and influential legislators.
Whether this translates into broader political capital ahead of 2027 remains a topic of discussion among pundits and citizens alike, particularly as internal party dynamics evolve and new leadership narratives take shape.
