Babu Owino Claims He Rejected Ruto’s Offer for Education CS Role During Gen Z Protests

NAIROBI, Kenya — Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino has revealed that President William Ruto personally offered him the position of Cabinet Secretary for Education during the height of the youth-led Gen Z protests in 2024, an offer he claims to have turned down on principled political grounds.

Speaking during an interview on Thee Alfa House YouTube channel, the lawmaker stated that he chose not to join the broad-based government formed in the wake of the countrywide demonstrations. Owino noted that he stood firm in his refusal despite the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga supporting the political arrangement between the opposition and the ruling administration.

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According to the MP, he was the sole Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) member who resisted joining the government, emphasizing that maintaining his political beliefs and ideological integrity mattered far more than securing a high-ranking state office.

President Ruto had dissolved his entire Cabinet on July 11, 2024, following weeks of intense nationwide anti-government protests triggered by the contentious Finance Bill 2024 and broader public outcry over governance and economic hardship. The restructuring subsequently led to the inclusion of several opposition figures into executive dockets.

Defending his broader political strategy, the Embakasi East MP highlighted his decision to establish The Mwananchi Party, explaining that the outfit aims to empower young leadership to run for elective offices across the country, ranging from parliamentary seats to governorships.

Addressing concerns over political fragmentation, Owino cited historical coalitions—including NARC, Jubilee, NASA, and Azimio—to demonstrate that political parties can forge working partnerships without sacrificing their core values or organizational identities. His remarks reinforce his stance to build an independent political track heading into future elections.