A member of parliament allied to the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has downplayed claims that he was assisted by party leader Raila Odinga to capture his parliamentary seat.
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino on Tuesday revealed that contrary to speculations that he had benefited from Raila's endorsement in the run-up to the 2017 August general elections that saw him emerge victorious in a crowded field, he had actually achieved the feat on his own account.
"Most people think that Raila helped me win but that is not true. In fact three of the Nasa affiliate parties fielded candidates in Embakasi East. Wiper had a candidate and so was Amani National Congress (ANC). I was representing ODM and there was no way Raila could have endorsed me. That would have broken the Nasa coalition. I am self-made," Babu told Radio Maisha.
He added that the firm conviction the people of Embakasi East is what made him triumph against his closest rival Francis Mureithi whom he said enjoyed state machinery support owing to his affiliation to the ruling Jubilee Party.
Owino's win was however recently overturned by a Nairobi High Court on grounds of massive irregularities despite a vote recount directed by the same court indicating that he had won the contest. The former University of Nairobi student leader has however appealed the directive before an Appellate court