Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino has drawn public attention after a social media post that was meant to show a personal moment of reflection ended up sparking questions about honesty and timing.
On October 20, 2025, Babu shared a photo on his Facebook page showing him seated outside a rural house holding two books.
The caption suggested he was taking some quiet time to think about his life and the lives of his people following the burial of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
He wrote that he was having “a me time in the village, Got Matar, to reflect on my life and the lives of my people.” The post appeared heartfelt and came just a day after Raila’s funeral, which had drawn national attention.
Many people initially saw it as a touching message from a politician known for his energy and strong opinions.
The late Raila Odinga had been a central figure in Kenyan politics for decades, and his death was deeply felt, especially in the Nyanza region where he was widely respected.
For Babu, who has often expressed admiration for Raila and his leadership, the post seemed like a personal way to connect with his community during a time of mourning.
However, it soon emerged that the photo was not recent. Some Kenyans on social media discovered through a reverse image search that the same photo had been posted by Babu himself almost five years earlier, on December 26, 2020.
The picture even appeared in a news article two days later, titled “Photos of Babu Owino’s village mansion.” Every detail matched from his outfit to the background of the homestead in Got Matar, Siaya County.
This discovery led many to question why he had used an old photo to express what he described as a current reflection.
Babu Owino, whose full name is Paul Ongili Owino, has built a reputation as one of Kenya’s most outspoken young leaders. Born in 1989, he studied actuarial science at the University of Nairobi, graduating with first-class honors before pursuing law. His rise began in student politics, where he served as the university’s student leader and became a recognizable public figure.
Since being elected as MP for Embakasi East in 2017, he has focused on education, youth empowerment, and community welfare. He is also known for his close ties to the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and his public admiration for Raila Odinga.
After Raila’s passing, Babu attended several memorial events, spoke passionately about his mentor’s legacy, and was warmly received by supporters during the funeral events. Many interpreted this as a sign of his growing influence in Nyanza, a region long shaped by Raila’s leadership. But the old photo controversy shifted some of that positive attention.
Critics accused him of trying to manipulate public emotion by presenting an old image as a recent one. Some felt it showed a lack of sincerity, suggesting he wanted to appear more reflective than he truly was.
Others, however, defended him, saying a reused picture did not change the meaning of his message.
Babu has not commented on the matter, choosing instead to remain silent amid the discussions. His silence has fueled more debate about how politicians use social media to shape public perception.
In today’s political environment, where authenticity and image play a crucial role, even small missteps can have large effects. For a figure like Babu Owino, who is seen by some as part of Kenya’s next generation of political leaders, every action is closely observed.
