{
  "id": 7944114,
  "title": "Babu’s double bet: Backing Sifuna while building his Nairobi political base",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/babus-double-bet-backing-sifuna-while-building-his-nairobi-political",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-17T03:55:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "People Daily Kenya",
    "slug": "people-daily-kenya",
    "url": "https://peopledaily.digital/inside-politics/babus-double-bet-backing-sifuna-while-building-his-nairobi-political-base"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Embakasi East MP Babu Owino is prioritizing his gubernatorial race over his support for Senator Edwin Sifuna's future presidential ambitions. He is reducing his presence at Linda Mwananchi rallies to focus on Nairobi's 85 wards, where he plans to build his political base. Despite this shift, Owino remains committed to Sifuna's presidential bid, stating he will campaign for him wherever possible. However, Sifuna is pursuing his own presidential campaign, while Owino is building a separate political structure in Nairobi. The source of Linda Mwananchi's registration remains unresolved, with the Registrar of Political Parties awaiting a court decision on the matter. The upcoming 2027 election will test the movement's ability to function as a coalition while its leaders pursue different electoral goals.",
  "summary": "Embakasi East MP Babu Owino is scaling back his participation in Linda Mwananchi’s nationwide campaign, but he insists he is not scaling back his support for Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna’s 2027 presidential ambitions. Instead, Babu says he is making a different political calculation: Sifuna needs to build the national campaign, while he needs to consolidate […]",
  "key_points": [
    "Babu Owino prioritizes gubernatorial race over supporting Sifuna's presidential bid.",
    "Owino reduces presence at Linda Mwananchi rallies to build political base in Nairobi.",
    "Sifuna pursues separate presidential campaign while Owino builds political structure in Nairobi."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": "https://urgent.news/ill/7944114.png",
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Nation Africa",
        "title": "Babu Owino and Sifuna: End of political honeymoon?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/babu-owino-and-sifuna-end-of-political-honeymoon",
        "published": "2026-09-17T02:55:13.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "People Daily Kenya",
        "title": "Joe Nyutu dismisses Babu Owino-Sifuna fallout claims, says political parties are not the issue",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/joe-nyutu-dismisses-babu-owino-sifuna-fallout-claims-says-political",
        "published": "2026-09-17T05:09:42.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}