MP Babu Owino reaffirms Nairobi Governor bid, denies shifting to Kisumu

Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino has come out to rubbish reports making rounds online that he has abandoned his ambitions to replace Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja at City Hall in the 2027 General Election.

The outspoken legislator has however strongly dismissed the allegations, intimating that his City Hall ambition remains intact and his spirit unshaken, further blaming the said reports on his political opponents.

“Forget about the fake Information being peddled by my unworthy opponents. We are in Nairobi to stay,” he wrote in a social media post on Wednesday.

This comes as the second time Owino has been in the spotlight this week, following a reported altercation between himself and Kileleshwa Member of County Assembly (MCA) Robert Alai.

Just this past Sunday, the MP accused MCA Alai of physically assaulting him at a restaurant along Lenana Road in Nairobi’s Kilimani area.

Owino said the incident occurred on Saturday afternoon at around 3:40p.m., when he had gone to meet a senior clergyman at the establishment.

According to the MP, he had released his security detail for the Christmas holidays and had driven himself to the venue. He said the meeting lasted about 20 minutes, after which he stood up to leave.

“As I was departing, I noticed a group of people known to me seated at an adjacent table. Out of courtesy, I approached the table and greeted those present, including the MCA for Kileleshwa Ward, Hon. Robert Alai,” Owino said in the statement.

He claimed that the encounter quickly turned hostile, alleging that Alai accused him of orchestrating social media attacks against his wife.

“Without provocation, he accused me of being behind alleged social media attacks on his wife. I calmly explained that I do not know his wife, that she has never wronged me in any way, and that I have no reason whatsoever to involve innocent family members in politics,” Owino stated.

The MP added that he does not target women in political disputes, noting: “It is not my style to advance my politics by attacking women. I hold our respected ladies in the highest regard.” Owino alleged that the MCA then became violent.

“At that point, Hon. Alai became aggressive, pushed me, drew a pistol, and struck me on the chest and jaw with it, all in full view of patrons at the establishment,” he said.

He further claimed that after a brief lull in the confrontation, the situation escalated again.

“Moments later, he again turned hostile, picked a glass of water from the table, and poured it on my face,” Owino stated, adding that a crowd had gathered by then.

Fearing further escalation, Owino said he left the restaurant and reported the matter at Kilimani Police Station.