- Embakasi East MP Babu Owino shared a reflective post from his rural Got Matar home in Siaya county, a day after Raila Odinga’s burial in Bondo
- The MP, seen holding two books under a tree, said he was taking time to reflect on his life and that of his supporters
- The post sparked mixed reactions online, with some reviving old debates about his background as succession talk grows in Luo Nyanza
TUKO.co.ke journalist Harry Ivan Mboto has over three years of experience reporting on politics and current affairs in Kenya
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has retreated to his Got Matar village home in Siaya county for what he called a quiet period of reflection.
Source: Facebook
This came barely a day after the burial of the late Raila Amolo Odinga, former Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader.
Got Matar, a Dholuo word for bare hilltop, is an area of dispersed rural settlements in Raila’s home sub-county of Bondo.
The youthful legislator earlier shared a photo of himself seated under a tree, holding two books, with a modern orange-coloured house in the background.
In a later post, Babu clarified that he hails from Yimbo East location, Pala sub location, and is a member of the Kachwiji Clan.
Source: Twitter
Where is Babu Owino’s village located?
Babu captioned his earlier photo as a moment to meditate on his life and the lives of those who have supported him through his political journey.
Keen-eyed netizens, however, noticed that the photo was recycled. It had first appeared on his social media in December 2020, when Babu had asked his followers which of the two “lethal” books he should begin reading first.
“I am spoilt for choice on which book to start with. Both are extremely lethal and turns the mind on. Christmas in the village,” Babu said in 2020.
Still, the image carried new weight this time, coming just a day after the nation bid farewell to one of Kenya’s most influential political figures.
Source: Facebook
Raila, who was buried at his ancestral home in Kang’o Ka Jaramogi, Bondo, was celebrated as a symbol of Kenya’s fight for democracy and social justice. He was the face of multiparty reforms, the 2010 Constitution, and several pro-people movements.
His passing has left a deep sense of loss, especially in Nyanza, where his word often shaped political direction.
With Raila gone, attention has turned to who might rise to fill the leadership vacuum in Luo Nyanza and the broader opposition space.
Can Babu Owino rise as Raila’s successor, new Luo kingpin?
Among those mentioned is Babu, whose fiery oratory, boldness, and close ties to the youth have earned him a passionate following, particularly among university students.
Some of his supporters view him as Raila’s natural heir in the region, but others have dismissed such suggestions, citing his age, political experience, and family background.
Online critics have questioned his Luo roots, claiming he may not be a legitimate successor to lead the community’s political course.
It is in the midst of these conversations that Babu’s village post emerged, a symbolic move interpreted by many as a quiet response to his critics and perhaps a reflection of his growing political ambitions.
Source: Facebook
Where was Babu Owino born and raised?
Born and raised in the informal settlements of Nyalenda, Kisumu, Babu has often spoken about his humble beginnings.
In past interviews, he recalled how his mother brewed and sold illicit chang’aa brew to educate him, his brother and sister.
He described how police would often raid their home, forcing him to study under constant uncertainty.
Babu schooled at Kisumu Central Primary School, and later at Kisumu Boys High School before joining the University of Nairobi.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
