Babu Owino breaks silence after gun altercation with Robert Alai
By Mabonga Makhanu, January 4, 2026Embakasi East Member of Parliament (MP) and 2027 Nairobi gubernatorial hopeful Babu Owino has broken silence about a confrontation he had with Kileleshwa Member of County Assembly (MCA) Robert Alai, an incident he says escalated to the point where a firearm was drawn.
In a detailed Facebook post shared on Sunday, January 4, 2025, Owino addressed growing speculation surrounding the fallout between the two leaders, offering his account of what transpired.
According to the MP, the incident occurred on Saturday afternoon after he was invited for a private meeting by a senior clergyman at a well-known restaurant along Lenana Road in Kilimani.
Owino said he had temporarily released his security detail for the Christmas holidays and therefore drove himself to the meeting, arriving at around 3:40 pm. The discussion lasted roughly twenty minutes before he decided to leave.
“Yesterday afternoon, a friend of mine who is a senior clergyman invited me for a meeting at a popular restaurant along Lenana Road in the Kilimani area. Having released my security detail for the Christmas holidays, I drove myself to the venue and arrived at approximately 3:40 p.m. We held our discussions for about twenty minutes, after which I stood up to leave,” Babu stated.
Babu Owino/Alai encounter
As he was exiting the restaurant, Babu noticed a group of people he knew seated nearby and approached them to exchange greetings. Among those present was Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai.
It was at this point, Babu claims, that Alai accused him of orchestrating online attacks against his wife. The Embakasi East MP says he denied the allegation, explaining that he had no personal relationship with Alai’s wife and no reason to involve family members in political disputes.
He further maintained that attacking women has never been part of his political approach and that he does not engage Alai personally, making the accusation unfounded.
“As I was departing, I noticed a group of people known to me seated at an adjacent table. Out of courtesy, I approached the table and greeted those present, including the MCA for Kileleshwa Ward, Hon. Robert Alai. Without provocation, he accused me of being behind alleged social media attacks on his wife.” He added,
The situation escalated when Alai became aggressive, pushing Owino and producing a pistol, which he used to strike him on the chest and jaw in the presence of other patrons. Owino says he remained composed and urged Alai to calm down and explain the basis of his anger. For a brief moment, tensions appeared to ease, with both men sitting down and another individual stepping in to separate them.
“At that point, Hon. Alai became aggressive, pushed me, drew a pistol, and struck me on the chest and jaw with it, all in full view of patrons at the establishment. I stood my ground and urged him to calm down, asking him to explain what wrong I had committed to warrant such a violent reaction. He appeared to cool down, and we briefly sat, with another person positioning himself between us,” he added.
The scaffold
However, Owino claims the calm was short-lived. He further stated that Alai once again became hostile, picked up a glass of water from the table and poured it on his face as onlookers gathered, alarmed by the unfolding scene.
To prevent the situation from turning into a physical fight, Owino says he immediately left the restaurant and went straight to Kilimani Police Station, where he formally reported the matter.
Threats against him
The MP described the incident as a serious and unprovoked attack, which he believes was politically motivated and posed a direct threat to his life. He called on the relevant authorities to investigate the matter thoroughly and take appropriate legal action.
Owino further linked the confrontation to what he described as a broader pattern of intimidation, harassment and threats against him, which he says began following the death of ODM leader Raila Odinga.
He recalled an earlier incident during Baba’s burial in Siaya, where he claims goons were mobilised to attack him, a threat he says he endured out of respect and affection for the late leader.
Babu Owino has emphasised that leaders have a responsibility to act with restraint and set a positive example for the public. He warned, however, that his calmness should not be mistaken for weakness, adding that he would always stand firm in defence of his life, dignity and the rule of law.