Babu Owino to Ruto: You can’t fight graft while protecting corrupt allies
Embakasi East Member of Parliament (MP) Babu Owino, on Thursday, September 4, 2025, challenged President William Ruto to drop corrupt allies surrounding him.
Speaking to Kameme TV, Babu said there is no way the Head of State can claim to be fighting graft while those closest to him are, in his words, “stinking of corruption.”
You might also like
The legislator accused Ruto of protecting individuals implicated in scandals even as Kenyans struggle with the effects of corruption in health, education, and county governance.
‘Corruption is everywhere’
Babu argued that corruption has deeply infiltrated state institutions, citing recent revelations around the Social Health Authority (SHA) and ghost hospitals.
He noted that billions of shillings have been lost in fraudulent claims while public hospitals continue to struggle with a lack of basic equipment and medicine.
“Wewe ni rais wa Kenya na unaheshimika kama rais wa Kenya, unasema ya kwamba kuna ufisadi unakubali. Lakini ukiangalia kando yako, unaona kaburi la ufisandi. SHA, mambo inaibwa uko.
“Mahospitali ghushi, hewa, yanalipwa. Ukiangali kushoto, unaona mambo ya ufisadi. Unaona mambo ya elimu, capitation. Pesa haiwezi fika shuleni, imebwa na pesa zingine zinapelekwa kwa shule fake, zingine haziko,” he said.
The MP went further, accusing Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja of being part of the problem, branding him as corrupt and symbolic of what ails Nairobi County.
“Ukiangalia mbele yako, kama rais tunaonga Governor wa Nairobi ambaye anavalia jezi la ufisadi. Yeye mwenyewe ni mfisadi,” he remarked.
State House under scrutiny
Babu expressed shock that instead of holding leaders accountable, the President had reportedly hosted Members of County Assembly (MCAs) at State House to protect Sakaja from a looming ouster.
“Sasa wewe kama rais unadefend ufisadi mpaka State House, unaita MCAs ili wakuprotect Governor wa Nairobi kule State House.
“Sasa unataka upige ufisadi gaani. Unataka kumaliza ufisadi kivipi na ni wewe unapromote ufisadi,” he said.
The outspoken lawmaker insisted that Kenya’s war on corruption will remain a mirage unless the President stops shielding allies accused of mismanaging public funds.
Babu’s remarks come in the wake of heightened political debate over graft, with opposition leaders calling for more transparency and accountability within government institutions.
