Is Babu Owino the Future of Nairobi Politics? Polls Say Yes — and Sakaja Should Be Worried

Embakasi East MP Babu Owino is no longer just a noisy presence in Parliament — he’s now a serious contender for Nairobi governor 2027. A new ISS Africa survey puts him firmly in the lead, and the numbers tell a story Sakaja and the political establishment won’t like.

Babu commands 28.1% support, topping the list of preferred aspirants. Irungu Nyakera sits at 19.2%, while Governor Johnson Sakaja, despite all the hype around his “youthful leadership,” has slumped to just 16.4%. For a sitting governor, that’s nothing short of embarrassing.

But here’s the kicker: Nairobi’s Gen Z army is with Babu. A jaw-dropping 62% of 18–24-year-olds back him for governor. Add in his Eastlands base — where he’s treated as both hustler and hero — and you can see why his star is rising. Even millennials (25–32) are giving him solid backing.

Sakaja, by contrast, leans heavily on Ruto’s political machine. Nyakera is piggybacking on Rigathi Gachagua’s networks. In short, their support isn’t organic — it’s borrowed power. Babu’s, however, is raw, unfiltered, and built on the streets.

The establishment may dismiss him as reckless, but this poll shows something deeper: Nairobi is restless. The youth want a fighter, not another smooth-talking technocrat. If the momentum holds, 2027 could be Babu’s coronation — and Sakaja’s political obituary.