Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has rejected demands to apologise over his remarks about the collapse of a 16-storey building in Eastleigh, Nairobi, insisting that he will continue seeking answers from Governor Johnson Sakaja and relevant county authorities.
In a legal response dated October 26, 2026, Owino’s lawyers dismissed a six-hour ultimatum issued on behalf of the building’s alleged developer, arguing that the demand was inappropriate given the seriousness of the tragedy, which claimed lives and left families devastated.
The MP’s legal team maintained that his comments were intended to raise questions about public safety, regulatory oversight and accountability following the incident.
“Our client takes a strong exception to your attempt to characterise his statements concerning the collapsed Eastleigh building as defamatory when the tragedy raises serious questions about public safety, regulatory oversight and accountability,” his lawyers stated.
They further insisted that Owino would not apologise to the alleged developer or Sakaja for demanding answers over the collapse.
“Our client will neither apologise to your client nor to Governor Johnson Sakaja for demanding answers over a tragedy that has claimed lives and left families devastated. He has no intention of being bullied into silence, and a threat of litigation will not make questions of public interest disappear,” the lawyers added.
The legal team also questioned the wording of the demand letter, pointing out that it addressed the MP as “Madam”. They raised concerns about whether the letter had been prepared and issued with the necessary care.
The dispute began after lawyer Elisha Gweth Onyango, acting on behalf of the building’s alleged developer, accused Owino of publishing defamatory content on X and Facebook on October 25, 2026.
According to the demand letter, the MP shared a purported County Government Notification of Approval that identified the alleged developer as the registered physical planner for a development on the Eastleigh property where the building later collapsed.
However, Owino’s lawyers disputed the description, maintaining that their client is an architect and not a physical planner. They also attached his practising certificate to support their position.
The developer’s legal team had demanded that Owino remove the social media post within six hours, warning that failure to comply would result in legal proceedings.
The disagreement comes amid questions about the circumstances surrounding the building’s collapse and the actions taken by Nairobi County authorities before the incident.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has alleged that Nairobi County did not submit an inquiry file on the matter, despite the county maintaining that arrests had been made before the building collapsed.
The DPP has since directed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to investigate possible criminal negligence involving developers, contractors and county officials.
The ODPP has indicated that those found criminally responsible could face prosecution once investigations establish liability.
Owino has maintained that the legal threat will not stop him from demanding answers about the collapse and the role of the authorities responsible for overseeing construction in Nairobi.
