Fridah Ongili, the wife of Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, is appealing to Azimio leadership to help secure the release of her husband, who is being held in the Wang'uru police station in Mwea, Kirinyaga County.

PHOTO | COURTESY Babu Owino and his wife

According to accounts, the firebrand was apprehended by unknown persons on the eve of the anti-government rallies, Tuesday, July 18, upon his arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) from Mombasa, and has been missing since.

Fridah told Citizen tv on Wednesday evening that Owino informed her of the arrest and promised to call back, but that did not happen.

Did you read this?

  1. I Stand For Democracy! MP Babu Owino Fires Back At Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni
  2. President Museveni Accuses Babu Owino of Meddling in Uganda's Politics
  3. "How Does Azimio Then Continue Opposing A Government That It Is Assisting?" Eugene Wamalwa

She Said she initiated a search at the DCI station in JKIA and all the police stations in Nairobi because she was concerned about her husband's silence. 

PHOTO | COURTESY Babu Owino

Fridah was sent to the Wang'uru police station, where Owino is believed to have been detained after an almost useless errand. Upon arrival, she was denied admission onto the premises by police, who confirmed that her husband was present.

She begged the Azimio la Umoja coalition leaders for assistance, pointing out that her husband had done nothing wrong to warrant his incarceration.

"My plea to Azimio leaders, Raila Odinga, please do whatever you can to help my husband be free... to the government....you are the ones holding him illegally." All I want is to feed my spouse and check on him to ensure he's safe."

PHOTO | COURTESY Babu Owino 

The Embakasi East Member of Parliament and eight others have petitioned the court to urge the police to free them immediately and unconditionally.

Others include opposition leader Raila Odinga's spokesman Dennis Onyango, bodyguard Maurice Ogeta, Kilifi South MP Ken Chonga, Kilifi County Speaker Teddy Mwambire, MCAs Wilfred Odallo and Redson Ochongo, and two Nairobi County Assembly Budget Officers, Erick Otieno and Anthony Otsula.

The nine claim that on July 19, 2023, they were arrested at various locations throughout Nairobi County and spirited away to locations unknown to their family members, friends, and acquaintances in Kenya's official opposition.