Babu Owino Fires Back as Sakaja’s Lawyers Issue Six-Hour Ultimatum Over Eastleigh Building Collapse

Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino has refused to apologise to Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja after the governor’s lawyers issued him a six-hour ultimatum to remove social media posts concerning the deadly Eastleigh building collapse.

On Monday, October 26, 2026, Owino maintained that he would not withdraw his remarks, challenging Sakaja to take the matter to court. The legislator argued that Nairobi residents deserved answers about the tragedy and the circumstances surrounding the building’s approval and construction.

The dispute intensified after Owino shared a document on social media that he claimed showed Nairobi County had approved the development. He accused the governor of misleading the public regarding the building’s approval status and also alleged that KSh120 million had been paid as a bribe to secure approval. The bribery allegation has not been independently established.

Sakaja, however, disputed the claims, insisting that the county had approved a change of use for the property but had not authorised construction of the high-rise building. His legal team argued that Owino’s posts contained misleading information that could damage the governor’s reputation.

In response, Owino said he would not be intimidated by the legal threat and insisted that questions surrounding the disaster must be addressed. His lawyers also rejected the demand for an apology, maintaining that the matter raised serious concerns about public safety, regulatory oversight and accountability.

The building collapsed in Eastleigh, Nairobi, on Friday, October 23, 2026, triggering a multi-agency rescue operation. The ensuing dispute has renewed public attention on construction approvals, building inspections and enforcement of safety regulations in the capital.

The disagreement could proceed to court if the parties fail to resolve the matter. Meanwhile, investigators have been urged to establish responsibility for the collapse and determine whether any individuals or institutions failed to meet their legal obligations.https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EZkf5SBoC/