Babu Owino: 'DCI summons is political intimidation after Kakamega rally'
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The MP says DCI actions are politically motivated, targeting him and his aides during rallies in Western Kenya.
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has accused the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) of attempting to intimidate him and suppress political activity after his Western Kenya tour.
In a letter dated March 17, 2026, addressed to the DCI Western Region Director, Mr Owino said junior officers allegedly acting on instructions tried to summon him to Kakamega over events linked to the Linda Mwananchi rally held at Amalemba grounds and Mbale.
“The choice of Kakamega as the venue of interrogation is not only meant to intimidate and blackmail me, but is a testament to the regime's determination to suppress the voice of the people,” he wrote.
“Unless there exists a specialized court to deal with me in Kakamega, I advise you to ask your superiors to pursue their malice against me in Nairobi.”
Mr Owino, a member of both the Budget and Appropriations Committee and the Public Investment Committee on Commercial Affairs & Energy, also referenced a Court of Appeal ruling on the Computer Misuse and Cyber Crimes Act to question the legality of the summons and wider political targeting.
Alleged intimidation of aides
The MP further claimed that his security officers were detained in Kisumu without charges following the rallies.
He said his brother-in-law, Geoffrey Ajiki, was also briefly taken by officers believed to be DCI agents, only to be released the next morning.
“The power and privilege that come with this office should not blind you,” Owino wrote to the DCI.
“Power combined with stupidity is very dangerous.”
The letter reveals ongoing tension between political operatives in Western Kenya and state security agencies, with Owino framing the summons as part of a broader strategy to suppress political expression ahead of upcoming rallies.
The Linda Mwananchi tour has drawn national attention for its focus on grassroots political engagement.
Some rallies were in Kitengela and Kajamega were marked by clashes and heightened security concerns.
Rhe DCI wanted the MP to appear for questioning, indicating that he had information relevant to an ongoing investigation.
For now, Babu Owino has publicly refused to comply with the Kakamega summons, insisting that due process and the rule of law must be upheld.