BABU OWINO EXPALINS WHY HE SKIPPED THE JOINT ODM-UDA PARLIAMENTARY GROUP MEETING

Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino has explained why he skipped the joint ODM–UDA parliamentary group meeting convened by President William Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga at Karen.
Speaking in a media interview on Thursday, August 20, 2025, the Embakasi East legislator said he chose not to attend because he felt sidelined during the drafting of the NADCO report and the subsequent agreement on a broad-based government.
“I respect Raila Amolo Odinga. He is my party leader, my leader. I respect him so much, and you will never find me fighting him in the public domain. But when the NADCO report was being drafted, when there was an agreement between UDA and ODM on the Broad-Based Government, I was not consulted as a Member of Parliament.
I ought to have been consulted because I represent the views of my constituents. I was not consulted, and therefore when a meeting is called, if they did not consult me then, why would they want to consult me further?” Babu stated.
At the same time, Babu Owino spoke about ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, who also skipped the Karen meeting. The Embakasi MP stated that the ODM Secretary General had his reasons for skipping the meeting.
Babu Owino further stated that every member within the party has a right to express his or her views when dissatisfied with how the party is running, as has been guaranteed several times by the party leader, Raila Odinga.
“From time to time, Baba has always been clear on what he wants, and Baba has always mentioned that within ODM, people have democratic rights to express their views, and that is what ODM stands for, and he said even in the public domain that we cannot all think alike,” Babu stated.
Babu’s response regarding the meeting organized by his party leader and President Ruto comes just days after he, together with Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, skipped the session.