NAIROBI, Kenya — Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has dismissed reports of a growing political rift between him and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, insisting that the two remain united as the opposition prepares for the 2027 General Election.
Babu said claims that he had withdrawn his support for Sifuna were part of efforts to create divisions within the opposition and undermine its attempts to challenge President William Ruto’s administration.
Speaking while meeting youth on Wednesday 26, August 2026, the outspoken lawmaker urged supporters to stand behind Sifuna, describing the senator as his political ally and “brother.”
“Nataka mtushikilie mikono… mshikilie Sifuna kama my brother, mshikilie Babu Owino pia… rauni hio tukipeleka mambo mbele, tuskume ndugu yetu (Sifuna),” Babu said.
His remarks come amid growing speculation over the alliances that could shape the opposition’s strategy ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Babu backs Sifuna
Babu said Sifuna should continue receiving support as he engages with other opposition figures in an effort to build a broader political coalition.
He named former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, former Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Siaya Governor James Orengo, former Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i and retired President Uhuru Kenyatta among leaders with whom Sifuna could work.
Babu argued that opposition parties and leaders would stand a better chance of defeating the Kenya Kwanza administration if they united behind a common political strategy.
“Tunataka tuskumane tu kwa sababu sisi sote kama Wakenya tuko na shida moja, na hiyo shida ni hii serikali ambayo haifanyi kazi. Mnataka tubadilishaje hii maisha kama hatujaungana?,” he said.
He added that unity would be critical to any attempt to change the government in 2027.
“Ndio maana mimi nasema ili tutoe hii serikali, opposition lazima iwe united. Tukishikana hivo, tuko na solution; lakini tukiwa divided, hakuna penye tunaenda.”
‘If Sifuna and Babu separate, Ruto returns’
The Embakasi East MP dismissed suggestions that his political relationship with Sifuna had broken down, saying their partnership was built from the grassroots and should not be undermined by reports circulating online.
Babu, who is positioning himself to contest the Nairobi governorship in 2027, questioned why he would abandon Sifuna after building a political alliance with him from the ground up.
“Sasa ndugu yangu mwenye nimeanza na yeye, tumekuja na yeye huku juu, simtaki tena aje? Kama singemtaka si hatungeshikana kuanzia kule chini,” he said.
He said reports portraying him and Sifuna as rivals were potentially beneficial to the government because a divided opposition would struggle to mount an effective challenge in 2027.
Also Read: Sifuna to Ruto: ‘You’re the biggest problem in Kenya, we’ll send you home’
Babu also addressed remarks he made in Homa Bay concerning Kalonzo Musyoka, saying they had been interpreted out of context to suggest that he was abandoning Sifuna in favour of the Wiper leader.
“Babu akienda kule Homa Bay, ameongea juu ya Kalonzo pia, sasa ati Babu hataki Sifuna, anataka Kalonzo. Hawa watu wawili wakiseparate, Ruto amerudi, asubuhi mapema,” he said.
Babu alleges attempts to divide opposition
The MP accused the government and its supporters of attempting to fracture the opposition through attacks on individual leaders.
He claimed that opposition politicians were facing coordinated attacks both online and at political rallies, alleging that bloggers and what he described as “goons” were being used to target them.
“Government haitalala, kwa sababu wata-unleash bloggers; online goons wanaku-attack huko kwa mtandao, ukikuja kwa ground kuna ground goons wanaku-attack hapa. So wana-attack from all directions,” Babu said.
He did not provide evidence to substantiate the allegation.
The lawmaker nevertheless said such pressure would not force opposition leaders to abandon their political ambitions.
He called for political unity and said the opposition would respond to its opponents through peaceful political mobilisation rather than violence.
“But sisi tunasema they will come against us with goons, rungus, pangas, mishale, but we will go against them in the name of the Almighty God. Ni Mwenyezi Mungu ndiye atatupigania,” he said.
Babu’s comments underline the increasingly fluid political alignments taking shape ahead of the 2027 election, with opposition figures seeking to build alliances while simultaneously navigating competing ambitions for elective positions.
For Sifuna, who has emerged as one of the prominent voices in the opposition camp, continued cooperation with figures such as Babu could prove significant as the political landscape takes shape ahead of the presidential contest.
