‘They wanted to kill Babu’ – Onyonka claims after his car was stoned in Kisumu
By Ndiritu Wanjiru, March 5, 2026Kisii County Senator Richard Onyonka has claimed that there was an attempt to assassinate the Embakasi East Member of Parliament (MP) in Kisumu.
Onyonka has said that his vehicle was stoned after a group of people allegedly mistook his vehicle for that of Babu Owino in an attempt to kill him.
Speaking during an interview in a local TV station on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, Onyonka said the incident occurred when individuals saw his white car and assumed it belonged to the Embakasi East legislator. According to the Kisii Senator, the attackers appeared intent on targeting Owino, whom he claimed some people wanted to harm.
“I was stoned in Kisumu the other day; they thought my car was white like Babu Owino’s. They want to kill Babu. Why would anybody want to kill Babu?” said Onyonka.
Onyonka defends Owino
The senator went on to defend Owino, describing him as a person who is not associated with violence despite his sometimes outspoken political style. Onyonka said that in his interactions and observations, he had not witnessed the Nairobi lawmaker engaging in violent behaviour.
“Babu is such a useless boy because he is not violent. I have never seen Babu where I see violence. That is why I am saying he is useless,” Onyonka said, clarifying that he meant the remark positively.
The remarks from Onyonka come amid heightened political tensions and days after the vocal Nairobi legislator raised concerns about political interference, following the arrest of his security officers in Kisumu ahead of the Linda Mwananchi rally in Kakamega.
In a post on X on Sunday, February 22, 2026, he said the officers remain in custody with no information on charges.
“Yesterday, my security officers were arrested by the police in Kisumu. Up to this moment, they have not been released, and the charges against them remain unknown,” he wrote.
Babu has actively criticised the administration and participated in opposition events, including rallies with Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna.