‘I don’t want Raila to lose a vote’: Babu Owino side-steps confrontation with Museveni

Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino has attributed his suppressed response to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to Raila Odinga’s African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson candidature.

Speaking during Katiba@14 commemorations at Ufungamano House on Wednesday, the outspoken MP intimated that he held back on responding to Museveni’s criticism since he does not want the latter to withdraw his support for Odinga’s AUC bid.

The MP compared the Ugandan President’s term to his current age, saying he is like a grandfather to him hence he accords him some modicum of respect.

“The current President of Uganda Yoweri Museveni came yesterday and I don’t want him to lose his vote for Baba, I want him to vote for Baba. I genuinely respect him as my grandfather,” said Owino.

The lawmaker at the same time faulted Museveni for his continued stay in power, more than 36 years since taking over office.

He compared Museveni to former DRC Congo and Zimbabwean presidents whose long tenures crumbled after refusal to hand over power, advising the former that leaders should be careful not to get drunk with power and in the process taint their legacies.

“The number of years he has served in power is more than my years and therefore there is a time and a season for everything. I respect him and I recognize him as a revolutionary and there are those revolutionaries who ended up very badly,” stated Owino.

“Look at Mobutu Sese Seko, he came in as a revolutionist but got drunk with power. Look at Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe.”

DAP-Kenya Party Leader Eugene Wamalwa, on his part, expressed dismay at the Ugandan President for seemingly beefing with a young politician the age of his grandson like Owino.

“We were very shocked yesterday when we heard one of the Heads of State attack someone who is supposed to be his grandson. Mimi ni rafiki sana wa mheshimiwa Yoweri Museveni," he said.

“Mimi nimemjua kwa miaka zaidi ya ishirini, nimekuwa wakili wake. Mimi simjui Bobi Wine lakini, Bobi Wine anajua Babu Owino. Babu Owino na Bobi Wine ni marafiki.”

The remarks come after Museveni, who spoke on Tuesday while endorsing Odinga's AUC Chairperson bid at State House in Nairobi, accused Owino of indulgence in his country's politics, saying he had information that the Kenyan MP was collaborating with Uganda's opposition.

In a brief rejoinder on the same day, the MP carefully avoided a direct confrontation, instead expressing his support for democracy as a leader.

Owino recounted his political journey saying he was raised in a humble background and understands the plight of the poor and those in need.

In the same way, he compared the current economic situation in Kenya with that of the neighbouring Uganda saying young people in the two nations require good and visionary leaders who understand them.