‘Cocaine Will Ruin You…You’re Addicted To Bhang,’ Bitter Exchange: Sakaja and Babu Owino Clash Over Scorecard
In the past twenty-four hours, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja and Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino have criticized each other on social media over the city’s service delivery.
The two legislators have set the streets of X, formerly Twitter, ablaze with insults regarding Sakaja’s first-year performance.
Friday’s media report that Sakaja was among the lowest-performing governors sparked the conflict.
Babu then responded to the post on Saturday, claiming that all Sakaja does in office is embezzle county funds and purchase residences abroad.
“Sakaja is an embarrassment to the People of Nairobi. How can you be ranked last out of 47 Counties? Kazi ni Kuiba pesa Za Nairobi County and buying Houses in America, London and Dubai,” wrote Babu.
“In addition to that, he’s increasing taxes to Nairobians. Even dead bodies are now taxed. Nairobi imeisha, Dimples ndio imebaki. Imekataa kuwork.”
A subsequent report published by a different media outlet conveyed the same information, prompting renowned attorney Ahmednasir Abdullahi to label it a false report.
Governor Sakaja then responded to Ahmednasir’s statement by asserting that Nairobi has undergone one of the most significant changes under the new administration.
To name a few, he enumerated the gains he has made thus far, adding that “high-sounding headlines are inconsistent with the situation on the ground.”
ALSO READ: Sakaja Responds After Being Ranked Worst Performing Governor
“I see such ratings and laugh. Nairobi has collected the highest revenue in 5 years, paid 7,640 Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) monthly from August last year, built its first ICU, 2nd renal unit, 1st NICU ever, employed 2,500 Green Army, built 10 kitchens to feed 250k children already 88k on-boarded, tarmacked roads, put up street lights, issued bursaries and scholarships worth Ksh.1B (compared to Ksh.3B in 10 years) bursaries issued every school term now for the first time,” he wrote.
Among other projects, he increased ward-based projects from Ksh.17 million per ward to Ksh.23 million per ward, erected markets, and restarted projects that had been stalled for the previous six years.
His tirade continued as he stated that he had reconstituted all hospital boards and hired CEOs for all Level 5 hospitals, paid legacy KEMSA debt (Ksh.185M), and restored supplies worth Ksh.244 million to all facilities.
“…completion of stalled stadia (Dandora) and commenced works on city stadium, Woodley, Mwiki, etc., awarded PPP Waste to Energy (45MW) Dandora, completing water projects to add 140 million liters per day plus secured funding (€100million) for Northern collector 2 and Maragua 4 to add 220 million liters to the people; the list is endless,” he said.
Babu swiftly refuted Sakaja’s claims, stating that the ward-based funds are significantly less than what Sakaja claimed to have distributed to MCAs.
“Stop lying you gave MCAs 1200 bursary forms at 5k each which amounts to 6 million shillings, not Ksh.23M which you are claiming. Every ward is supposed to get 23m shillings per year for bursaries, where’s the Ksh.17M shillings per ward for 85 wards= Ksh.1.4B shillings?” posed Babu.
ALSO READ: Babu Owino Blasts Johnson Sakaja over Poor Performance after Governors’ Ranking
Sakaja responded indignantly to Babu’s misrepresentation of the facts by attempting to provide an analysis of how the money had been dispersed and by criticizing Babu for doing so.
“If you removed the white stuff you are stuffing up your nose, you’d realize there’s a difference between bursaries and Ward-based Development Funds (WDF),” wrote Sakaja.
“Bursaries are Ksh.7M per ward (85 wards). (Ksh.2.5M term 1, Ksh.2.5M term 2, and Ksh.2M term 3). Up from Ksh.4.5M. Every ward is getting WDF of Ksh.23 Million for Development, not bursaries. Up from Ksh.17M.”
Babu, who was already a participant in the bare-knuckle fighting, responded with a counterattack that veered away from the county administration’s criticism and delved into personal matters.
“You said in your previous post that you gave bursaries worth Ksh.23M shillings in every ward. You’re nothing in the intellectual parlance hence should stop misusing numbers, we are not in TEAM-building activities. You have stolen a lot from Nairobi county and are addicted to alcohol and Bhang,” he said.
“For the white stuff, I stopped its consumption but you are advised to stop being a girlfriend we have more than enough ladies in Kenya. Catfish. The day you went for liposuction you also melted your brain cells.”
Sakaja responded with the accusation that MP Babu’s irrational statements are due, in part, to the fact that he is a cocaine user.
ALSO READ: Sakaja Ranked Among Worst Performing Governors(List)
He also threatened to disseminate receipts demonstrating Babu’s prior involvement in the theft of county funds.
“You’re still high. You stopped when? A few minutes ago? Stop completely bro, cocaine will ruin you. Which post did I mention Ksh.23M per ward for bursaries? Show us,” he said.
Sakaja also fabricated an incident in which he “rescued” Babu from detention during the pre-handshake political season, even though they were political rivals.
“I came through, despite the political risk, and removed you from that cell at Parklands Police Station. I’ll still do the same and rescue you from your current illusions of grandeur. See the hope in your eyes in the picture that day. Even in the current case that I assure you is still evolving; I gotchu,” he said.
“Again, visit any of our facilities including Tassia Kwa Ndege, where I’ve reclaimed land stolen under your watch as MP. Visit them and you’ll get support against cocaine addiction. We’ve also built the first rehab at Sinai, VIWANDANI.”
In the background of their conflict is a contest for the governorship of Nairobi, which MP Owino has expressed confidence in winning in the 2027 general election.
Babu believes he has what it takes to defeat Sakaja in the upcoming election for the coveted City Hall office, should the incumbent county executive choose to run again.
He has even stated that Sakaja’s sole purpose is to preheat his seat.
‘Cocaine Will Ruin You…You’re Addicted To Bhang,’ Bitter Exchange: Sakaja and Babu Owino Clash Over Scorecard