Sakaja Gives Babu Owino Six Hours to Delete Eastleigh Building Posts, Threatens Court Action

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has threatened to take legal action against Embakasi East MP Babu Owino over social media posts linking him to the approval of the multi-storey building that collapsed in Eastleigh.

In a demand letter issued by his lawyers on Sunday, October 25, 2026, Sakaja ordered the legislator to remove the disputed posts from X and Facebook within six hours. The governor’s legal team argued that the publications contained misleading information that could damage his reputation and public image.

The lawyers maintained that the information shared by Owino incorrectly associated Sakaja with the approval of a development project on land parcel LR/36/11/40 in Eastleigh, Kamukunji Sub-County.

According to the letter, the governor considered the allegations defamatory and demanded their immediate removal. His legal team warned that failure to comply with the six-hour deadline would leave them with no option but to initiate court proceedings, with Owino potentially required to meet the resulting legal expenses.

The dispute follows a series of accusations by the Embakasi East MP regarding the circumstances surrounding the approval of the building, which collapsed on Friday, October 23, killing and trapping people beneath the debris.

In his social media posts, Owino challenged Sakaja’s position that the building had not received the necessary county approvals. The legislator claimed that documents in his possession showed that an approval had been issued.

Owino further alleged that KSh120 million had been paid as a bribe to facilitate the development approval. However, the bribery allegation remains a claim made by the MP and has not been established as fact.

Sakaja responded by releasing documents that he said supported his position that the county had not authorised the commencement of construction.

Among the records shared were police reports dated July 16, which reportedly identified individuals connected to the construction despite alleged breaches of county regulations.

The governor also pointed to earlier correspondence with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) concerning challenges in enforcing county laws.

The documents indicate that Sakaja had raised concerns about stalled prosecutions since 2024, arguing that the situation had made it difficult for the county to deal effectively with illegal developments and other public nuisances.

He reportedly requested the appointment of special prosecutors, updated charging guidelines and approval for six nominated officers to strengthen enforcement.

The latest exchange has intensified the public dispute between the two leaders as questions continue to emerge over the building’s approval process and the enforcement of construction regulations in Nairobi.

The legal threat now places Owino under pressure to respond to Sakaja’s demands within the stated deadline, while the competing claims over the building’s approval remain a central issue in the unfolding controversy.

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