Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has said that Kenya Moja—a coalition of more than 70 cross-party MPs—is committed to holding the government accountable on issues such as high taxes, unaffordable housing, and the rising cost of education, while ensuring that promises made to Kenyans are delivered.
Speaking in an interview on Thursday, Owino described Kenya Moja as a platform where like-minded MPs can exercise oversight over the government.
He noted that the movement brings together members from different political parties, including the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), and vowed they would not remain silent while Kenyans struggle.
“Kenya Moja Movement is a movement of like-minded MPs; we are over 70 MPs who you will be seeing soon. We will not keep quiet and watch Kenyans suffer,” he said.
Influence government decisions
While acknowledging that Kenya Moja remains a minority in the 349-member Parliament, Owino stressed that the coalition will still use its voice to influence government decisions.
“Even if you go by the minority, with God makes a majority,” he noted.
On questions about his political future in ODM, Owino downplayed speculation, saying that it was “tomorrow’s problem.” For now, he insisted his priority is delivering services to his constituents and holding the government to account.
“Today’s problem is to ensure that my constituents are served, the services that I promised them are delivered, to ensure that I put checks and balances on the excesses of this government and to ensure that those which they promised Kenyans, they deliver. I will not lose the joy of today because of tomorrow’s pressure or tomorrow’s stress,” he said.
Owino also explained his absence from a recent joint parliamentary group meeting between UDA and ODM. He said he was not consulted when the agreement was signed and had other urgent matters to attend to.
“I am a member of parliament in ODM. When a decision is being made, I must be consulted. Kenyans who are ODM members must be consulted,” he said.
According to Owino, Kenya Moja’s goal is to strengthen parliamentary oversight and safeguard the interests of Kenyans across the political divide.
