Babu Owino Defies Legal Threats, Vows to Turn Up Pressure on Sakaja Over Eastleigh Tragedy
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has refused to apologise or delete his controversial statements about the collapsed Eastleigh building, warning that legal threats will not stop him from demanding accountability from Governor Johnson Sakaja and Nairobi County authorities.
Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino has escalated his confrontation with Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja following a legal dispute over statements concerning the collapsed building in Eastleigh, Nairobi.
In a strongly worded response dated October 26, 2026, lawyers representing Babu Owino rejected demands for an apology and the removal of the alleged defamatory publication, insisting that the legislator has a responsibility to question public authorities over matters affecting the safety and lives of Nairobi residents.
The response was issued by B. Kagunyi & Company Advocates and addressed to Oyugi Ochieng’ & Associates Advocates, who had written on behalf of their client, Okeya Hempstone Nyawenda.
The legal exchange has brought renewed attention to questions surrounding the Eastleigh building collapse, including the circumstances surrounding the disputed approval documents, enforcement of building regulations and the responsibility of government authorities in preventing construction-related disasters.
Babu Owino’s legal team maintains that the tragedy raises serious public-interest questions that cannot be pushed aside through threats of litigation or demands for an immediate apology.
Babu Owino Rejects Six-Hour Legal Ultimatum
The lawyers took issue with a demand reportedly requiring their client to remove the disputed publication within six hours, warning that failure to comply would result in legal proceedings.
In their response, the lawyers said Babu Owino was not prepared to withdraw his demand for accountability, apologise merely to appease those offended by his statements or be intimidated into abandoning questions surrounding the Eastleigh tragedy.
They also dismissed the suggestion that a six-hour ultimatum was sufficient to resolve questions arising from a disaster of such magnitude.
The legal team maintained that Babu Owino was entitled to pursue lawful public discourse and would defend his position if legal proceedings were instituted against him.
One of the strongest statements in the letter was the declaration that their client would neither apologise to the recipient’s client nor to Governor Sakaja for demanding answers over a tragedy that had claimed lives and devastated families.
The lawyers further argued that the public interest in establishing what happened could not be addressed by changing the subject or focusing solely on the professional qualifications of individuals associated with the disputed development.
Why Babu Owino Is Questioning Sakaja Over Eastleigh Building Collapse
The dispute follows the collapse of a multi-storey building in Eastleigh, Nairobi, on October 23, 2026.
The incident triggered an emergency rescue operation, with fears that construction workers and other people were trapped beneath the rubble.
The building collapse raised serious questions about the enforcement of construction regulations in Nairobi, particularly how a development of that size could proceed amid concerns about approval documents and compliance with safety requirements.
Governor Johnson Sakaja subsequently addressed the issue, explaining that the building had received approval for a change of use but that the subsequent application for construction of a multi-storey structure had not been approved.
According to reports, Sakaja said the application for a 15-storey building with a basement had not been granted. He also maintained that the building lacked the necessary occupation certificate.
The Governor argued that the incident exposed serious weaknesses in the enforcement of building regulations and called for stronger powers to prosecute developers who violate construction requirements.
This explanation has become central to the political and legal disagreement, with Babu Owino demanding answers about the approval process and the role played by different authorities.
ODPP Orders Investigation Into Eastleigh Building Collapse
The controversy intensified following intervention by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
On October 26, 2026, the ODPP directed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to investigate the circumstances surrounding the Eastleigh building collapse and establish whether Nairobi County officials, the developer, contractors or other professionals contributed to the disaster.
The investigation is expected to examine the planning, approval, supervision and construction processes.
The ODPP also indicated that anyone found criminally culpable could face prosecution, regardless of their position or status.
The development adds pressure on the relevant authorities to establish who authorised the project, whether construction regulations were followed and whether any public officials failed in their responsibilities.
Questions Surrounding Building Approvals Put City Hall Under Scrutiny
One of the biggest issues emerging from the Eastleigh tragedy is the apparent difference between approval for a change of use and approval for actual construction.
Sakaja has maintained that the county approved the change of use from residential to commercial-cum-residential development in October 2024, but that the subsequent architectural plans were not approved.
The Governor also identified professionals whose details appeared in the development process and called on their respective professional bodies to investigate their involvement.
Meanwhile, the National Construction Authority identified 9th Street Plaza Limited as the developer and Stromax Holdings E.A. Limited as the contractor.
These developments have increased pressure for an investigation that establishes the responsibilities of the developer, construction professionals and government officials.
For residents, the bigger question is whether the existing building approval and inspection systems are effective enough to prevent similar tragedies in Nairobi.
Babu Owino Insists Public Accountability Cannot Be Silenced
In the October 26 legal response, Babu Owino’s lawyers maintained that their client would continue raising questions about the Eastleigh building collapse regardless of threats of litigation.
They argued that an elected representative has a responsibility to speak out whenever issues affecting public safety arise.
The lawyers further insisted that Nairobi residents deserve explanations about who approved the development, what safeguards were in place and whether the relevant authorities fulfilled their statutory responsibilities.
They also warned against using legal proceedings as a means of diverting attention from the more important questions surrounding the tragedy.
The response specifically challenged the argument that the professional designation of individuals involved in the development process could settle questions about the disputed approval documents.
According to the lawyers, the public deserves to know what happened, and those questions cannot be answered simply by exchanging professional titles or demanding that political leaders change the subject.
Importantly, the allegations surrounding the development and the responsibilities of different parties remain matters requiring investigation and evidence.
Will Sakaja and Babu Owino Face Each Other in Court?
The possibility of a legal confrontation between the political figures has added another dimension to the Eastleigh building collapse controversy.
The legal dispute began after a demand was reportedly made for Babu Owino to remove his social media publication within six hours over allegations of defamation.
However, Babu’s lawyers have now made it clear that their client is prepared to defend his position in court rather than withdraw his demand for accountability.
The response also makes it clear that the legislator will not apologise simply to appease those offended by his statements.
If court proceedings are eventually instituted, the dispute could turn into a major legal and political confrontation, particularly because it touches on freedom of expression, defamation and the public’s right to question elected leaders.
For Nairobi residents and families affected by the tragedy, however, the most important issue remains establishing what happened and ensuring that anyone found responsible faces the law.
The ODPP investigation could prove significant in determining whether the collapse resulted from construction failures, regulatory shortcomings or possible negligence.
Eastleigh Building Collapse Puts Nairobi Leadership Under Pressure
The Eastleigh tragedy has once again placed Nairobi’s construction oversight systems under scrutiny.
The dispute involving Babu Owino and the legal team representing Okeya Hempstone Nyawenda is now unfolding alongside investigations into the circumstances surrounding the building collapse.
While legal teams exchange letters and politicians demand answers, residents want accountability and stronger enforcement of construction regulations.
The investigation will be particularly important in determining whether the developer, contractors, professionals or public officials breached their legal responsibilities.
For Governor Sakaja, the incident presents another major test of his administration’s ability to enforce development regulations and restore public confidence in Nairobi’s building approval systems.
For Babu Owino, the latest legal response signals that he is not prepared to abandon his criticism or withdraw his demand for answers.
The central question remains: Who should take responsibility for the Eastleigh building collapse, and will the investigations finally provide answers to the affected families?
