Tension Brews as Babu Owino Gets a 6-Hour Ultimatum to Do This or Face Legal Action

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

The governor, through his lawyers, warned that legal action would follow if the legislator failed to comply with the demand within the stated period.

The dispute erupted on Sunday, October 25, 2026, after Babu shared a document that he said showed Nairobi County had approved the development on February 13, 2024.

The building collapsed on Friday, October 23, raising concerns about construction safety and the approval process in the capital.

Babu accused Sakaja of misleading Kenyans about the building’s approval status and called for accountability over the tragedy. He also alleged that KSh120 million had changed hands as a bribe, a claim that has not been independently established.

However, Sakaja rejected the allegations and disputed the document circulated by the MP. He maintained that the county had approved a change in the property’s use but had not approved the architectural plans for the high-rise building.

According to the governor, the developer applied to change the property from residential use to a mixed residential and commercial purpose in August 2024, and the change was approved in October that year.

Sakaja said the application for the building’s development was submitted later in November 2024, making the earlier approval date cited by Babu a point of dispute.

The governor’s lawyers demanded that Babu remove the posts published on X and Facebook, warning that failure to do so could lead to court proceedings and legal costs.

The dispute has placed renewed attention on Nairobi’s building approval procedures and enforcement of construction regulations.

Meanwhile, investigations into the Eastleigh collapse remain important as authorities work to establish what happened and whether the required building rules were followed.

The two leaders have presented conflicting accounts, and the relevant approval records will be central to resolving the dispute.

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