The simmering rebellion within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has boiled over. Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has launched a blistering critique of his own party, asking the uncomfortable question: "Who are we anymore?"

In politics, silence is often a sign of unity, but noise is the sound of ambition. Babu Owino, the firebrand legislator who has long positioned himself as the heir apparent to the opposition throne, is no longer whispering. In a series of calculated statements, he has openly questioned the direction of the party under its current interim leadership. "We don't know the current ODM," Owino declared, a statement that cuts to the bone of the party's identity crisis following Raila Odinga's transition to the continental stage. This is not just a complaint; it is a challenge. Owino is drawing a line between the "old guard," whom he views as comfortable and compromised, and the "new energy" that he believes represents the party's true base.

The Battle for Nairobi and Beyond

Owino's outburst comes against the backdrop of his declared ambition for the Nairobi Governor's seat in 2027. He has shrugged off potential rivals with the arrogance of a prize fighter, claiming he has "no opponent." But his real fight isn't with the current Governor, Johnson Sakaja; it is with the internal machinery of ODM. He feels sidelined, snubbed by the party elite who recently handed key leadership positions to others, leaving him out in the cold.

• The "Horn" Factor: Owino revealed he was told he had "grown horns" and would be chased out of the party. His response? "I am not afraid." This defiance is resonating with the youthful base of the party, the "Jeshi," who feel equally disenfranchised.
• The Raila Vacuum: With Baba focusing on the AU Commission chairmanship, a power vacuum has opened up. Owino is stepping into it, not with diplomacy, but with a sledgehammer.
• The Coalition Conundrum: Owino has been a vocal critic of the "broad-based government" deal with President Ruto, refusing to tow the line of cooperation. He sees this as a betrayal of the opposition's mandate.

A Party at War with Itself

The significance of Owino's rebellion cannot be overstated. ODM is an institution built on loyalty, but that loyalty is fraying. By questioning the party's direction, Owino is effectively launching a bid for its soul. Is ODM still the party of the downtrodden and the radical, or has it become a establishment vehicle for deal-making?

As the 2027 polls loom on the horizon, Babu Owino is making it clear: he will not be a passenger on the ODM bus. He intends to drive it, or perhaps, crash it if he doesn't get the keys. The party leadership in Chungwa House should be worried. The unquiet prince is awake, and he is hungry.