NAIROBI, Kenya — Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has dismissed reports that he is considering abandoning his bid for Nairobi governor after meeting former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, insisting he remains in the race for the 2027 General Election.
Owino issued the denial on Wednesday, October 21, after claims circulated that Gachagua had advised him to drop his gubernatorial ambitions and instead contest the Nairobi Senate seat.
“My unworthy opponents have given up and are now banking on fake news. Nairobi has already been decided. The gubernatorial race is between Babu Owino and Paul Ongili,” he said in a social media statement.
Owino, whose official name is Paul Ongili, did not provide evidence identifying those behind the reports. His statement nevertheless made clear that he had no intention of publicly conceding ground in the contest for City Hall.
The claims emerged after Gachagua hosted Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and other leaders associated with the Linda Mwananchi movement at his Wamunyoro residence in Nyeri County on Tuesday. The meeting came amid continuing political discussions over possible alliances and party arrangements ahead of the 2027 elections.
It remains unclear whether Gachagua advised Owino to switch to the Senate race. The reported advice should therefore be treated as an allegation rather than an established outcome of the meeting.
Babu reasserts his Nairobi ambitions
The latest denial is not the first time Owino has had to address reports that he could abandon his bid for Nairobi governor.
In January 2026, the MP rejected claims that he had shelved his gubernatorial ambitions to pursue a parliamentary seat in Kisumu County, insisting he remained focused on Nairobi.
He has since taken steps to establish a political platform for the contest. On September 18, Owino announced The Mwananchi Party as his political vehicle for the 2027 General Election, signalling his intention to pursue the governor’s seat outside the traditional party arrangements.
The move came amid debate within opposition circles over which parties or coalition structures should support candidates associated with Linda Mwananchi. Owino has also backed Sifuna’s political ambitions, while discussions continue over how their respective political vehicles could work together.
The latest reports have therefore touched on a central question facing the emerging opposition formations: whether political alliances will accommodate individual ambitions or require aspirants to reconsider the seats they intend to contest.
Gachagua’s role in the Nairobi contest
Gachagua’s meeting with Sifuna and other Linda Mwananchi figures has drawn attention because of the potential influence of political alliances on the Nairobi race.
The former deputy president leads the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), which is also associated with Embakasi North MP James Gakuya, who has expressed interest in the Nairobi governorship.
DCP Deputy Party Leader Cleophas Malala has previously called on Sifuna to work with Gachagua, adding to discussion about possible cooperation between opposition leaders ahead of the polls.
However, a meeting between political figures does not, by itself, establish that a candidate has agreed to abandon a race or accept another position. Any claim that negotiations have produced such an arrangement requires confirmation from the people involved.
Owino’s public response puts the issue squarely back on the table: he says he intends to contest Nairobi’s top county office, regardless of reports suggesting otherwise.
A crowded contest for City Hall
Owino is among several politicians positioning themselves for the Nairobi governorship, a contest expected to be shaped by party nominations, alliances, campaign organisation and voters’ assessment of the incumbent administration.
Governor Johnson Sakaja is preparing to defend his seat, although speculation about his future party affiliation has added another layer of uncertainty to the race. Sakaja has previously acknowledged discussions with ODM figures but has not, in the reports cited here, confirmed a final decision to leave the United Democratic Alliance.
Gakuya is another potential contender, while Kasarani MP Ronald Karauri, businesswoman Agnes Kagure, former Starehe MP Margaret Wanjiru, Makadara MP George Aladwa and political commentator Tony Gachoka have also featured in discussions about the race.
Former Nairobi County Chief Officer Geoffrey Mosiria has declared his intention to contest the seat as well. His dismissal from the county administration on October 21 has added a separate political dimension to the unfolding contest, although his removal does not in itself determine his prospects as an aspirant.
The breadth of the field means that political alliances and party tickets could become as important as individual declarations. Candidates will need to build support across Nairobi’s 17 constituencies and 85 wards rather than rely solely on their existing political bases.
Also Read: Babu Owino warns opposition divisions could hand Ruto 2027 election win
Nairobi had 2,415,310 registered voters in the 2022 General Election, according to the figures cited in the original report. The final electorate for 2027 will depend on the updated register ahead of the election.
For now, Owino has rejected the suggestion that he is considering a change of course. His statement does not settle the wider question of how opposition leaders will coordinate their campaigns, but it reinforces his publicly declared intention to seek the governorship.
The next test will be whether the political discussions around Linda Mwananchi and DCP produce formal alliances, agreed candidates or competing bids for the same seat. Until the participants confirm any such arrangements, claims about private advice or proposed changes to individual ambitions should be treated cautiously.
With the 2027 election approaching, Nairobi’s gubernatorial contest is becoming a test not only of candidates’ popularity but also of their ability to navigate shifting political alliances without losing sight of the voters they hope to represent.
