By: Micky Limundo
Kenya is in the middle of a political revolution, not one instigated by the old guards, but by the people themselves, particularly the youthful and energetic population.
The reality is undeniable. It is the young who fought in the streets, got injured, and lost loved ones in their quest to rescue this nation from oppression, corruption, and poor leadership. It is the young who dared to change the conversation with genuine voices and unrelenting demands for accountability.
Missing the energetic and youthful representation at the top leadership yet the change is being driven by the youthful population is a clear indication that the old are robbing and using the youths energy and voice as a bridge leadership.
Currently, when it comes to political alignments and succession battles, the faces we continue to see paraded as national saviours remain the same old politicians. That is a betrayal. The revolution belongs to the young, but the system is recycling the old.
For Kenya’s democratic transformation to be genuine, the youth must be represented by leaders who understand their language, their struggles, and their aspirations.
RAILA, RUTO AND THE RISE OF BABU OWINO
Looking ahead to 2027, Kenya’s political script is already being drawn. Raila Odinga, having built a legacy as the face of opposition politics, is likely to shift gears. His support base in Luo Nyanza will need continuity, and here enters Embakasi East MP Babu Owino.
Babu Owino is not just another politician; he is the embodiment of youthful politics, embraced by Gen Z and millennials alike. Raila has quietly shaped him, and 2027 offers the perfect opportunity for a transition of Luo leadership to a younger generation.
Raila may support William Ruto for president while fronting Babu Owino as Deputy President , not merely as a political bargaining chip but as a symbol of youth representation and Luo continuity
Importantly, Babu Owino must avoid the Nairobi gubernatorial race. History has proven that Nairobi governors rarely emerge unscathed ,Evans Kidero, Mike Sonko, and even Anne Kananu had their reputations dented. The city is a political graveyard.
For Babu, taking such a path would be political suicide. His real destiny lies in national politics, where he can leverage his strong youth base to cement himself as Raila’s heir and the next Luo kingpin.
RIGATHI GACHAGUA, MT.KENYA, AND THE RISE OF SENATOR PENINAH METHU
On the other side of the political chessboard, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has redefined Mt. Kenya politics. Against all odds, he has successfully united the region and created the Democracy of Citizens Party (DCP), now the most vibrant grassroots force in Central Kenya.
While Gachagua has cemented himself as the region’s kingpin, he has no immediate interest in the presidency. Instead, he has positioned himself as the kingmaker. In 2027, he is expected to back Kalonzo Musyoka for president. However, Mt. Kenya, as Kenya’s single most decisive voting bloc, cannot walk into a general election without a stake at the presidency level. This is where the deputy president slot becomes critical.
The most fitting and acceptable candidate for this role is the vocal and fearless Senator Peninah Methu, one of Gachagua’s most loyal and trusted lieutenants. Methu is young, brave, and firmly grounded with grassroots support.
Unlike recycled old leaders, he resonates with ordinary citizens and speaks the language of the youth , making him a powerful bridge between Mt. Kenya’s political establishment and the nationwide youth revolution.
If Gachagua will rally Mt. Kenya behind Kalonzo with Methu as running mate, it will deliver a united voting bloc. This unity is especially important now, given the revival of Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee Party, which could otherwise be used as a spoiler tool to split the mountain.
By keeping the block consolidated under DCP and Methu’s candidacy, Gachagua ensures Mt. Kenya does not walk into the elections divided.
THE BIGGER PICTURE: A YOUTHFUL REVOLUTION IN 2027
The 2027 elections are shaping up as a generational battle. For the first time, Kenya’s youth , the largest voting demographic ,will have leaders who can represent their struggles and aspirations at the very top.
Most of us have grown seeing the same old faces as our top leaders and the friction between the old and the youthful is because this is a different generation and the old leaders do not fully understand the language of the youthful population,thus the raising leadership resistance.
With Babu Owino on one side and Peninah Methu on the other, both sides of the political divide will reflect the spirit of the revolution: a demand for youthful, genuine, and people-driven leadership.
Kenya cannot afford to keep recycling leaders who have no connection with the struggles of young people. The future belongs to those who can mobilize the youth, understand their language, and fight for their interests.
The 2027 political revolution will be defined not by Raila, Ruto, Kalonzo, or Gachagua but by whether leaders like Babu Owino and Peninah Methu are allowed to rise and carry the torch of transformation.
This is the moment for Kenya to embrace true generational change.
Micky Limundo is a political analyst
