Babu Owino and Johnson Sakaja Clash Over Eastleigh Collapse
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja are locked in a legal battle over allegations of bribery and irregular approvals following a building collapse.
A legal dispute has erupted between Babu Owino, Member of Parliament for Embakasi East, and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja following the October 23, 2026, collapse of a multi-storey building in Eastleigh. The tragedy left 47 people missing, with only four rescued alive.
Owino alleges that the Nairobi County government irregularly approved the development in February 2024 and claims a Sh120 million bribe was paid to secure the approval. Governor Sakaja has denied these claims, asserting that while a change of user was approved in October 2024, the architectural plans for the high-rise were never authorized. Sakaja maintains the developer built with impunity despite county enforcement actions and arrests.
The conflict escalated when Sakaja's legal team issued a six-hour ultimatum for Owino to apologize and remove social media posts linking the governor to the approval. Owino rejected the demand, challenging the governor to a court battle to cross-examine him. Additionally, architect Okeya Hempstone Nyawanda issued a defamation demand letter, claiming Owino falsely identified him as the physical planner who approved the construction.
As the legal threats continue, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has directed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to probe possible criminal negligence by developers, contractors, and county officials. This directive follows the failure of Nairobi County to submit an inquiry file regarding the collapse.
