More trouble for Babu Owino over ‘promised’ Sh21m buses

By David Ndolo

Residents of Embakasi East Constituency are now demanding three school buses that their embattled MP Babu Owino promised them four years ago.

Parents who have children in the three secondary schools said they fear that the MP may have diverted Sh21 millions allocated for the purchase of the buses.

The money was allocated from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

On Tuesday, parents whose children school at Utawala Secondary, Embakasi Garrison Secondary and Mihango Secondary schools said they were promised the buses four years ago.

According to the parents, the schools were to receive a 52-seater bus each.

“Each bus was to cost Sh7 million. It was budgeted for in the CDF 2016-2017 Financial Year. However, after the buses were not bought and delivered, the money was carried forward to the next financial year,” said Tom Makori, a parent at Embakasi Garrison Secondary school.

Another parent, Ms Janet Mwangi, said some of the students who were excited about the bus have since finished school.

Parents and students in three secondary schools in Embakasi East have condemned their MP Babu Owino for incompetence.

The parents told the Media that they are disappointed with the conduct of their MP who shot a dejay in a pub in Kilimani last Friday.

They said that they do not want to empathize with the MP who is in remand.

Babu Owino was remanded for 7 days since Monday awaiting his bail ruling.

He was arrested after he shot the DJ at B-Club.

They said they fear Babu Owino either diverted the shs 21 million meant for busses or embezzled it.

A CDF official who requested anonymity for fear of being victimised said the buses were budgeted for but have never been bought and delivered to schools.

The official said in the current CDF budget, there the buses have not been allocated anything.  

Mihang’o Secondary School principal, Mr Peter Ndiritu, said they were promised a bus by the former CDF committee but never received.

“If you are promised something, you have to be patient. We are stuck and don’t know if indeed we will ever get the bus.  Initially, the idea came through the former CDF committee but when Owino became the MP, it looks like the idea died,” he said.

Ndiritu added that that the school doesn’t have a bus and its expensive for the students to hire buses whenever they are going on trips.

“These political things, you have to wait until you see first then you believe,” said Utawala Secondary School principal, Ms Petronila Mumo.

The Embakasi East MP is in remand as he awaits ruling on his bail application after being charged with attempted murder and behaving in a disorderly manner while armed with a firearm.

Babu Owino was filmed shooting DJ Evolve last week at the B-Club in Kilimani, Nairobi. He was subsequently arrested and charged in court.