Babu Owino warns Africa on rising authoritarianism after Suluhu’s win
Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino has issued a strong statement warning African leaders against sliding into authoritarianism, shortly after Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared winner in the country’s general election.
In his statement shared on Facebook on Saturday, November 1, 2025, Babu said that Kenya and other African nations must remain vigilant in safeguarding democracy, noting that the continent has witnessed instances where leaders have undermined democratic values in pursuit of power.
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“Kenya is a member of the community of states not just in East Africa but across Africa at large. In today’s interconnected world, whatever happens in a neighboring or sister country must concern us,” Babu wrote.
He reminded citizens that democracy is not automatically passed from one generation to another, but must constantly be protected and defended.
Babu emphasised that Kenya, having endured years of struggle and sacrifice to achieve democratic governance, cannot afford to ignore warning signs from neighbouring nations.
He noted that whatever happens in sister countries such as Tanzania should concern Kenya and the wider African community, given their shared history and interconnected destinies.
“As a nation that has shed blood, sweat, and tears in the pursuit and preservation of democracy, Kenyans must remember that this treasure is not hereditary; it is not automatically passed down from one generation to the next. It must be won anew, vigilantly protected, and fiercely defended. For democracy, once lost, is not easily regained,” he wrote.
The legislator questioned the credibility of Tanzania’s electoral process, citing reports of post-election violence, curfews, and internet blackouts that followed Suluhu’s declaration as president.
He said such measures belong to a bygone era and should not be tolerated in modern democratic societies.
“We must look across the continent and learn from examples of nations that took their democracy for granted, only to find themselves under the yoke of military dictatorship or authoritarian rule,” Babu wrote.
Babu further urged President Suluhu to reflect on the direction of her leadership, arguing that the recent events in Tanzania had tainted the country’s long-standing image as a beacon of stability and unity in East Africa.
He said that any leader who resorts to silencing dissent through force or suppression must re-evaluate whether they still serve the people or merely seek to protect their own power.
“It is for this reason that I call upon Mama Samia to reflect and ask herself where the rain started beating her. This is not the Tanzania we know. Reports of post-election violence, deaths counted in the hundreds, curfews imposed on citizens, and internet blackouts: these are measures that have no place in the modern world. Any leader who finds themselves resorting to such tactics must search their soul and ask whether they still serve the people or merely their own power,” he added.
He went on to caution that leadership should never be treated as a birthright or a matter of life and death, stressing that no one is born to rule.
According to him, genuine leadership emanates from the people’s consent, and the true voice of God is heard through the will of the people.
“Leadership is not a birthright. No one is born to rule. It should never be treated as a matter of life and death. There is no honor in forcing oneself upon a people unwilling or unready to be led. The fundamental principle of democracy is that the people know what is best for themselves, vox populi, vox dei — the voice of the people is the voice of God,” he added.
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Steve Ireri
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