Embakasi East MP Babu Owino on Wednesday endorsed Gachagua-led demands for Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to step down due to purported failure to safeguard Kenyan citizens.
The outspoken legislator made these remarks at a press briefing, characterizing Kanja’s leadership of the police force as unsustainable, while alleging that the police chief occupies his position illegitimately.
“Kanja must resign. His service has concluded. This individual should vacate his position. His tenure is illegitimate. He should depart immediately. Therefore, I endorse these (opposition’s) demonstrations,” stated Babu Owino.
On Monday, Gachagua and several opposition leaders followed through on their threats by forcefully entering the IG’s Jogoo House headquarters in an attempt to meet with Kanja.
Contrary to their previous visit a week earlier, the group failed to locate the IG in his office, which led them to intensify their demands for responsibility through a public gathering in Nairobi’s central business district.
Following the disruption of their rally by teargas and chaos, the opposition announced intentions for nationwide demonstrations on Friday, February 20 to intensify pressure on IG Kanja to resign.
On Wednesday, February 18, Babu Owino justified the opposition’s measures against police leadership, asserting that protests represent a mechanism to compel the government to act appropriately for Kenyan citizens.
Babu contended that protests have historically served a crucial function in advancing democratic reforms in Kenya.
“We recognize what introduced multi-party politics. It was demonstrations. The President himself participated in demonstrations,” he added.
The parliamentarian, affiliated with the faction that split from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), also censured Johnson Sakaja regarding the recent collaboration agreement with the national government.
Sakaja had previously refuted claims that county functions were being transferred to President William Ruto’s administration as misinformation, maintaining that no responsibilities or roles had been relinquished and that the county’s constitutional authority remained completely undiminished.
“The national government is arriving under the pretext of rescuing Nairobians from ineffectiveness. The governor has diminished his stature as he will now operate under the national government. He has shifted all his duties and we denounce this action because I am certain no meaningful change will occur,” he stated.