Babu Owino Distances Himself from Maverick Aoko After Attacks on Mama Ida Odinga

Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has publicly distanced himself from outspoken blogger Maverick Aoko following a series of controversial social media posts in which Aoko launched attacks against Mama Ida Odinga, the wife of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

In a strongly worded clarification, Babu Owino said while Aoko is his friend and a vocal supporter, her opinions and posts do not reflect his views or instructions, stressing that he has never sanctioned any attack on the Odinga family.

“Maverick Aoko is my friend and my fierce supporter, of which I’m truly grateful and appreciative of. Often times when she posts on X, people are under the impression that I am the one who tells her what to post. Maverick is an independent-minded person. I do not know her sources and have never told her to attack the Odinga family,” Babu stated.

The legislator went on to affirm his close personal relationship with members of the Odinga family, making it clear that insulting Mama Ida would be unthinkable to him.

“Winnie Odinga is my friend, Junior is my friend and Rosemary is my friend too. How can I insult their only mother? Mama Ida loves me like her own son, welcomes me home and gives me food whenever I visit her. I can never insult such a mum. She’s been good to me and I love her.”

Babu Owino’s remarks come amid heightened political sensitivity, where online commentary is increasingly being linked—fairly or unfairly—to political figures. His statement appears aimed at drawing a firm line between personal associations and responsibility for inflammatory online discourse.

Background: Maverick Aoko and Her Online Antics

Maverick Aoko has built a reputation as one of Kenya’s most polarizing online personalities. Known for her unfiltered, confrontational style on X (formerly Twitter), Aoko frequently weighs in on politics, governance, and public figures, often using sharp language that sparks heated debate.

Over the years, her social media presence has been marked by public feuds, explosive allegations, and viral posts that attract both fervent supporters and fierce critics.

While some view her as a fearless truth-teller unafraid to challenge power, others accuse her of crossing ethical lines through personal attacks and unverified claims.

Her recent posts targeting Mama Ida Odinga triggered backlash across political circles, with many questioning whether her views were aligned with leaders she has previously supported. This reaction likely prompted Babu Owino’s decision to publicly clarify his position and reaffirm his respect for the Odinga family.

Drawing the Line Between Support and Accountability

By distancing himself from Aoko’s remarks, Babu Owino joins a growing number of politicians seeking to disentangle themselves from the conduct of influential online supporters.

His statement underscores the complexities of modern politics, where social media activism can both amplify support and create reputational risks.

For Babu, the message was clear: friendship and political support do not equate to shared views—especially when it comes to personal attacks against respected figures.