Embakasi East MP Babu Owino descended upon Nyanza this Sunday with the ferocity of a man who knows the throne is empty and the kingdom is restless. In a high-voltage tour spanning Nyando, Muhoroni, and Rarieda, Owino did not just hold rallies; he staged a stress test on the region’s loyalty to the newly installed ODM leadership.

The timing was surgical. Coming barely 24 hours after a dramatic standoff at the funeral of Beryl Odinga—where organizers reportedly attempted to deny him the microphone—Owino’s tour was a direct answer to the party’s old guard. His message was clear: the boardroom may have picked Oburu Oginga, but the streets are still deciding.

The 'Team Ground' Offensive

Owino’s convoy snaked through Awasi and Nyando, drawing crowds that rivaled presidential stopovers. In Rarieda, the atmosphere was electric, charged with the grief of a community still mourning the recent passing of Raila Odinga and the anxiety of an uncertain political future.

“We gathered because we believe in something greater than fear,” Owino told a roaring crowd in Nyando, his voice raspy but commanding. “No matter how heavy the road, no matter how strong the resistance, we will not turn back.”

The subtext was impossible to miss. With the new ODM leadership under Oburu Oginga and Chairperson Gladys Wanga increasingly seen as cooperating with President Ruto’s administration, Owino is carving out a lane as the “opposition within the opposition.” He spoke directly to the economic pain of the *wananchi*, referencing the skyrocketing cost of living that has left many families unable to afford basic maize flour, currently retailing at over KES 200 per 2kg packet in some areas.

A Succession War in the Open

The rallies highlighted a deepening fracture within the Orange party. While the National Governing Council (NGC) recently endorsed Oburu Oginga to steer the ship, the ground appears to be shifting beneath them. A recent survey by CoRG Africa Limited placed Owino as the preferred successor in Luo Nyanza with 51.8% support, dwarfing Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga’s 11.6%.

• The Funeral Flashpoint: On Saturday, mourners in Bondo forced the program to halt until Owino was allowed to speak, a humiliation for the organizers.
• The Gachagua Factor: Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, now leading the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), has publicly courted Owino and Senator Edwin Sifuna, sensing their isolation.
• The Youth Vote: Owino’s rhetoric on “transformational vs. transactional leadership” is resonating with a disillusioned youth demographic tired of dynastic politics.

The Kenyan Lens: Why It Matters

For the average resident of Kisumu or Migori, this is not just political theater; it is about representation. The region fears that the proposed “broad-based coalition” with the government will silence their grievances regarding infrastructure neglect and the high cost of living. By refusing to toe the line, Owino is gambling that the region prefers a fighter over a diplomat.

“The challenges we face are real,” Owino declared in Rarieda. “Many have felt forgotten. But let this be the moment we turn pain into purpose.”

As the dust settles on the lakeside, one thing is certain: the transition from the Raila Odinga era will not be a coronation. It will be a brawl. And right now, Babu Owino is the only one throwing punches.