Kinship political power derives from the backing of the family community, characterized by traditional ties, and aims to sustain power by controlling all political resources. Baubau City was the capital of the Buton Sultanate, ruled by the Koumu, Walaka, and Papara ethnic groups. This study intends to examine the politics of kinship in Baubau City. This study utilized primary data; the respondents were community leaders, academics, and political party leaders from Baubau City, Indonesia. This study uses partial least squares (PLS) for data analysis. This study concluded that the Koumu and Walaka could rule Baubau City's political politics. After the fall of the New Order and the introduction of decentralization, Koumu and Walaka emerged as key players in the political dynamics of Baubau City, earning the moniker "sons of the region" for their social, political, and economic agendas. Moreover, the cultural perception that is deeply ingrained in society reinforces the position of Koumu and Walaka as two deserving groups to be nominated for regional head elections. Accordingly, diverse techniques were employed to bolster the influence of Koumu and Walaka in Baubau City, and they undertook internal strengthening and exercised control over the city's political resources.