“Street cred” is short for street credibility, and refers to the respect, trust, and acceptance a person earns from ordinary people, particularly young people and peers, by demonstrating authenticity or an ability to connect with them.
The latest Linda Mwananchi offensive in Homa Bay captured the volatility of Kenya’s political arena, demonstrating how quickly crowd dynamics can pivot on political euphoria. Led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, and Siaya Governor James Orengo, the ODM splinter group made its way into Homa Bay in a highly charged political procession that has become one of the country’s most talked-about political events. Television and social media footage captured running battles and fierce confrontations between the visiting political team and groups of youths who appeared determined to block their advance.
The procession into Homa Bay Town had the feel of a political siege. Riding atop SUV sunroofs, Babu Owino and his colleagues moved in tight formation with their supporters toward the town centre as stones, tear-gas canisters and other projectiles were hurled at the motorcade.
In one widely circulated clip, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino could be seen rallying his supporters as the threat intensified. He urged them not to retreat, arguing that those confronting them were fewer and weaker and calling on his supporters to hold their ground.
The scenes triggered national debate, with many Kenyans reacting to Babu Owino’s ability to mobilise and command a crowd under pressure. His heroics have since earned him the informal title of “General” among some of his supporters, a reference to the manner in which he took charge from his position atop the lead vehicle.
Many observers hold that Babu’s confidence in such a charged environment has been forged in years of political experience. His background as a student leader at the University of Nairobi gave him an early orientation in the mechanics of grassroots mobilisation, crowd politics and political organisation. At the height of his student leadership, University of Nairobi leadership and top HELB executives shook at his name, well aware of his talent for mobilising mass student protests that could freeze the city centre.
Beyond his flair for connecting with ordinary people, Babu is widely regarded by political actors as someone who understands the practical choreography of political events, including reading crowd behaviour, campaign protocol, messaging, and the dynamics that dictate political gatherings.
Those familiar with his style describe him as a meticulous planner and a politician who pays close attention to data and ground-level intelligence. In Homa Bay, that acumen was on full display as he sliced through a volatile crowd and emerged as the politician most attuned to the mood of the crowds around him.
The episode also highlighted an interesting nuance within the Linda Mwananchi leadership. While Senator Edwin Sifuna is the movement’s designated leader, Babu appeared to take a more hands-on role as the procession encountered increasingly hostile opposition. Sifuna, by comparison, seemed more restrained, allowing Babu to engage directly with supporters as tensions rose.
Is Babu Owino Deploying Raila Odinga’s Firebrand People-backed Politics?
There are striking parallels between Babu’s crowdwork in political events and the political style of the late opposition supremo, the Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga. Odinga’s extraordinary grassroots appeal was progressively built by connecting with ordinary and economically marginalised Kenyans, most of whom hustle on the unforgiving streets of Kenyan cities.
At the height of his political career, Raila was known for moving with his supporters in formation during mass actions, even as security forces deployed tear gas and other state resources to disperse demonstrators. His trademark “Machozi Mondays,” loosely translated as “Teargas Mondays,” became synonymous with the era’s confrontational politics.
To some observers, Babu, once regarded as a young lieutenant in Raila’s political orbit, appears to have perfected a version of that same street appeal: getting physically close to the crowd, reading its mood and projecting confidence when the political temperature rises.
The Homa Bay episode has consequently boosted his public perception, even as he faces a highly publicised controversy involving former associates from his university days, including Nairobi City County Chief Officer for Citizen Engagement and Customer Service Geoffrey Mosiria, and political mobiliser Benson Omondi, popularly known as Ben Sirkal.
The chaotic Linda Mwananchi procession in Homa Bay showcased the ever-appreciating currency of street credibility in Kenyan politics. In an environment where political parties may not always translate into grassroots support, the ability to connect with, organise and command the attention of ordinary people can be a powerful political asset.
