Real leadership is not loud music and PR stunts: Babu Owino tells Sakaja

In a statement posted on his X platform, Babu Owino criticized Sakaja's administration for what he described as harassment of vendors and intimidation of youths, linking his remarks to recent allegations about the governor hiring goons to disrupt peaceful demonstrations on Tuesday.

"Governor Sakaja, Nairobi did not elect you to unleash goons on its people. You promised leadership. You spoke of change. But what we're seeing is betrayal,” Owino stated.

The MP painted a picture of systematic oppression under Sakaja's administration, alleging that "Vendors are being harassed. Youths are being beaten. Voices of dissent are being silenced not with facts, but with fists."

Owino questioned whether this was the transformation Sakaja had promised during his campaign, asking: "Is this the 'new Nairobi' you promised?"

The Embakasi East legislator drew a sharp distinction between leadership and what he characterised as authoritarian rule.

"You were elected to fix broken systems, not to break the people. You were given power to serve, not to suppress,” Owino said.

Owino accused the governor of ruling through intimidation, declaring: "Every time your administration sends goons to intimidate the people, you remind us: You are not leading. You are ruling through fear."

However, the MP expressed confidence in the resilience of Nairobi residents, warning Sakaja not to forget that the people of Nairobi are watching.

"But here's what you forget, Nairobians are watching. They are not fools. And they are not afraid. You can silence a few voices today, but you cannot kill the spirit of an entire city," he remarked.

MP Babu Owino challenged Sakaja to demonstrate authentic leadership, stating: "Real leadership is not loud music and PR stunts. It's service. It's humility. It's protecting your people, not attacking them."

The statement comes amid allegations that Governor Sakaja's administration hired goons to disrupt peaceful demonstrations that took place on Tuesday. Sakaja has responded to these specific accusations, saying that they are blatant lies.

"Such blatant lies. On Sunday, I was in Lugari for Church and came back to Nairobi on Monday afternoon through Kitale via Skywards. Ticket below. I have not seen Gaucho since he attended the Mukuru Housing Launch or Swaleh in many months (everyone knows who he works for)," Sakaja posted on X. 

Reports circulating online alleged that the Nairobi governor secretly met with self-proclaimed Bunge la Mwananchi president Calvin Okoth Otieno alias Gaucho and Swaleh Sonko on Sunday, June 15, to coordinate the disruption of the peaceful protests that called for the resignation of Deputy Police Inspector General Eliud Lagat over his links to teacher Albert Ojwang's murder. 

In the meeting, the governor is said to have facilitated them with Ksh.2 million to neutralise the protesters. 

In a video that went viral online, the goons chanted 'Sakaja tumelinda jiji' as they passed outside City Hall during the demonstrations.

Further, many goons revealed to Citizen TV in an exposé that they were hired to sabotage the protests.

However, the majority claim that they were shortchanged and have yet to receive the money owed to them. 

Prior to Tuesday's protests, Sakaja had issued a stern warning to those causing chaos during the demonstrations.