Bad News for Babu Owino as Sakaja Issues Him 6-Hour Ultimatum, Threatens Legal Action

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has issued a six-hour ultimatum to Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, demanding that he remove social media posts linking him to the approval of the building that collapsed in Eastleigh.

The dispute escalated on Sunday, October 25, 2026, after Babu questioned Sakaja’s explanation regarding the construction approval status of the ill-fated building.

Through his lawyers, Sakaja accused the legislator of publishing misleading information on Facebook and X, claiming that the posts were damaging his reputation and public image.

According to the demand letter, Babu was required to pull down the posts within six hours, failure to which the governor threatened to pursue legal action against him.

The letter specifically referred to a post published at approximately 1:27 pm on Sunday concerning the alleged Nairobi County approval for a development on a parcel of land in Eastleigh.

Babu had accused Sakaja of misleading Kenyans by claiming that the building lacked the necessary construction approval. He maintained that he had documentary evidence indicating that an approval had been issued on February 13, 2024.

However, Sakaja has disputed the claims, insisting that the county approved a change of user for the property but did not authorise the construction of the building.

The governor has argued that approval to change a property’s use is different from permission to undertake construction.

The disagreement comes after the collapse of a multi-storey building in Eastleigh on Friday, October 23, sparking rescue operations and renewed concerns over construction safety in Nairobi.

The incident has also intensified public scrutiny of the county government’s building approval, inspection and enforcement procedures.

Sakaja’s lawyers warned that failure to comply with the demand could lead to court proceedings, with Babu potentially facing legal costs and other consequences.

The unfolding dispute has drawn attention as the two politicians face growing political competition ahead of the 2027 Nairobi gubernatorial race.

The central question remains whether the disputed documents authorised the construction, a matter that requires proper verification.

Miles.ke feedback-opera-news-app@opera.com