Sakaja Gives Babu Owino 6 Hours to Delete Eastleigh Posts, Threatens Legal Action

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has issued Embakasi East MP Babu Owino with a six-hour ultimatum to remove social media posts linking him to the approval of a building in Eastleigh that collapsed, warning that failure to comply could lead to legal action.

In a demand letter dated Sunday, October 25, 2026, Sakaja’s lawyers accused the legislator of publishing misleading information about the development approval for a property identified as LR/Parcel No. 36/11/40 in Eastleigh, within Kamukunji Sub-county.

The legal notice stated that Owino had shared the disputed information on X and Facebook at approximately 1:27 pm on the same day. Sakaja’s legal team argued that the posts were damaging the governor’s professional reputation and public image, demanding their immediate removal within six hours of receiving the notice.

The lawyers warned that failure to meet the deadline would prompt further legal proceedings, with Owino potentially required to meet the associated legal costs and expenses.

The dispute follows a public exchange between the two leaders over whether Nairobi County had authorised construction of the multi-storey building that collapsed on October 23 along Yusuf Haji Avenue, also known as 9th Street, in Eastleigh.

Owino had questioned Sakaja’s assertion that the development lacked approval, claiming that county records supported the existence of an approval document. The MP also alleged that Ksh120 million had been paid as a bribe to secure the approval, an allegation that remains unverified.

Sakaja, however, rejected the claims and maintained that the county had never authorised the commencement of construction at the site. He also circulated documents that he said supported his position, including police reports dated July 16 concerning alleged breaches of county regulations linked to the development.

Other correspondence reportedly showed that Sakaja had written to the Director of Public Prosecutions seeking measures to strengthen the prosecution of county law violations, including cases involving unauthorised construction.

Meanwhile, the building collapse has triggered a multi-agency search and rescue operation as authorities work to establish the number of people affected. As of Sunday, October 25, the National Police Service had confirmed that four people had been rescued and taken to hospital.

Susan Mang’eni, the Principal Secretary for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, reported that 47 people had been listed as missing. The Kenya Red Cross had traced nine people and linked them with their families, leaving 38 still unaccounted for at the time of the update.

The legal dispute between Sakaja and Owino adds another dimension to the questions surrounding the building’s approval status and the enforcement of construction regulations in Nairobi. The allegations made by both sides will require verification through official records and any subsequent legal proceedings.

Source: https://www.facebook.com/share/1C1Qr3SvUj/

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