Ken Babu is a young Kenyan who wants to become the next senator for Nairobi. In a recent interview on the Political Ringside show, he spoke openly about his plan to replace the current senator, Edwin Sifuna. The conversation covered why he is running, what he hopes to change, and the challenges young people face when they try to enter politics.
Ken Babu explained that he was born and raised between Kisumu and Nairobi. He has been involved in youth groups for some time. His main reason for joining the race is the many problems he sees in daily life.
Nairobi has many slums, and issues like unemployment, insecurity, poor health services, and bad roads affect a lot of residents, especially the youth.
He believes the Senate can help fix some of these problems because it oversees how county money is used.
During the interview, Ken Babu said he respects Edwin Sifuna for doing a good job in oversight and for standing up against certain influences from the national government.
However, he thinks it is time for new energy in the position. He pointed out that devolved funds meant for development often do not reach the people as they should.
For example, he mentioned that a large part of county budgets goes to salaries, while services like garbage collection, drainage, and health facilities suffer.
Flooding happens in many areas during rains, and people sometimes have to rely on help from groups like the Red Cross. Ken Babu wants to push for better use of these funds so that education, health, and job opportunities improve across the county. One big part of his message is about creating jobs for young people.
He talked about promoting small industries and agriculture within Nairobi where possible. He also mentioned the need to revive certain companies through new laws.
In his view, when young people have no work, they become easy targets for politicians who use them as goons during political events.
This creates fear and insecurity in the city. Ken Babu called for stronger rules against politicians who pay for violence and for the courts to give tough punishments to those who break the law.
He said idle young minds can lead to trouble, and the solution is to give them real opportunities instead of tokens or short-term payments.
On the topic of protests, Ken Babu shared his thoughts about the planned June 25 events. He supports remembering those who lost their lives in past demonstrations, but he does not want the protests to aim at bringing down the government.
He criticized the use of live bullets against peaceful marchers and warned that creating fear among citizens is not the right way to lead.
He noted that when people feel tired of certain conditions, they will find ways to speak out. Public safety should come first, and protests should stay peaceful. Ken Babu is planning to run on the DCP ticket, which is part of the opposition.
He explained that in Nairobi, voters often look more at the individual candidate than at the party. He has spoken with many young people who feel the same way. His campaign focuses on restoring dignity in leadership, governance, and even within political parties.
He believes young leaders should not just vote but also run for office. He used a simple example from football: only players on the field can win the game, not those watching from the sidelines.
Older politicians sometimes tell youth to stay back and only support them, but Ken Babu thinks this limits progress. He also touched on the need for better separation between national and county governments to avoid repeating the same work and wasting money.
In his first 100 days, if elected, he plans to introduce a bill on this issue. He wants governors and other leaders to explain clearly how public funds are spent.
Ken Babu described some county systems as places where money disappears easily, and he wants stronger accountability. He added that it should be easier for voters to recall leaders who do not perform well. Funding a campaign is not easy for a young person.
Ken Babu said he gets support from friends and even strangers who believe in the idea. This help comes in forms like materials for events or simple town hall meetings rather than big money.
He knows politics can be tough and unpredictable, with alliances sometimes changing suddenly. Still, he believes that if young people keep pushing, a new wave of leadership can grow.
Nairobi is one of the most competitive places in Kenyan politics. There are many interests and established players. Ken Babu acknowledged this but said he is ready to compete by listening to residents and focusing on practical solutions.
He has learned from people like Sifuna but wants to bring his own fresh ideas based on what he has seen and heard from the ground. Issues like equal opportunities for youth across different parts of the country also matter to him.
The interview made it clear that running for Senate involves more than slogans. It requires understanding budgets, laws, and the daily struggles of city life.
Ken Babu stressed that real change comes from honest work and involving more young voices in decision-making. He hopes his bid can encourage others in his generation to step forward instead of waiting for their turn.
Politics in Kenya often brings tension, especially around elections and protests. Ken Babu called for ethical behavior from all sides. He believes leaders should stop exploiting hopelessness among the youth and start building systems that give people hope through jobs, better services, and fair governance.
The Senate race for Nairobi will likely see more talks like this as different people share their plans.
Ken Babu is focusing on mobilization and explaining his vision step by step. He wants Nairobi to have leadership that puts dignity and practical results first. This includes fixing basic things like drainage and garbage while thinking bigger about jobs and security.
