Speaking on Monday, November 17, Odhiambo said many people misunderstand the two ODM leaders, yet they are simply responding to the environment in which they operate.
According to her, urban politics is naturally more confrontational compared to rural areas.
Odhiambo explained that while some critics accuse Sifuna and Babu of going against the ODM leadership, the reality is that Nairobi voters expect their leaders to constantly challenge government decisions.
She noted that because the capital is home to diverse communities and fast-changing interests, leaders are often forced to take harder political positions to protect their support base.
Odhiambo questioned the assumption that Nairobi’s politics should automatically align with national agreements.
“What is the political position of leaders like Babu and Sifuna, whose voters are mainly in Nairobi? Is Nairobi a broad-based region? Of course not,” she said.
“Urban politics everywhere in the world is usually opposition-driven, so what they are doing is normal.”
She added that while she can easily speak about unity and broad-based politics in Suba North, Nairobi requires a different approach because city voters expect boldness, criticism, and constant oversight of government actions.
“For me, I can go home to Suba and tell my people to support a broad-based approach, but Nairobi operates on different dynamics. That is why I understand Sifuna and Babu when they face backlash for not following certain directions,” she explained.
According to her, politicians must also consider their own survival because, in politics, every leader must balance loyalty to their party with loyalty to their voters.
Babu Owino has been the centre of multiple debates within ODM due to his outspoken nature.
During the ODM@20 celebrations, he boldly stated that he was capable of leading the party one day—a comment that stirred intense discussions.
He has also been one of the loudest critics of President William Ruto’s administration, despite the broad-based cooperation between the government and ODM.
Babu has vowed to honour Raila Odinga’s legacy by resisting policies that burden Kenyans and has repeatedly called for protests if the government fails to act in the public interest.
Senator Sifuna, who also serves as ODM Secretary General, has been facing pressure from various political sides.
Some leaders expected him to soften his stance after the party's agreement with the government, but he has remained firm.
Recently, on October 30, he warned ODM members against using the term “broad-based” loosely, insisting that the party should remain principled and clear about its political identity.
His refusal to fully embrace the cooperation between UDA and ODM has led some to question whether he is fully aligned with the party’s new direction.
Odhiambo also pointed out that Kenya’s politics has not fully matured. Even in Nairobi—seen by many as a cosmopolitan city—ethnicity still influences political decisions.
“Let us be realistic. Our politics is still ethnic-based. Even in urban areas, these patterns do not disappear,” she noted.
The two leaders recently demonstrated their stand by skipping a joint ODM–UDA parliamentary group meeting at KCB Leadership Centre in Karen.
The meeting, chaired by the President, sought to strengthen cooperation between the two sides, but their absence highlighted their independent position.
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