Babu Owino warns junior DCI officers against blindly following orders
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino speaking to the press at the Vihiga Law Courts on Monday October 5, 2026.
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has warned junior officers in the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) against blindly following orders they believe could compromise their careers, as he defended two suspects arrested during a linda Mwananchi political rally in Vihiga in April this year.
Speaking outside the Vihiga Law Courts on Monday, where he appeared in support of the two accused persons, Owino told DCI officers to reject instructions from their seniors if they were being sent to carry out actions they considered unlawful.
“If you are a DCI officer, you’ve been sent by your boss, say no. Because will embarrassyou here in court,” Owino said.
He said officers executing questionable orders should consider the consequences of their actions, warning that those involved would eventually be required to account for their conduct in court.
Owino was speaking as the court heard the case involving the two suspects who were arrested following a political rally in Vihiga on April 25.
He questioned the prosecution’s evidence, pointing to what he described as inconsistencies in the dates of arrest and contradictions in witness accounts and exhibits presented before the court.
“Clearly, as the hearing is going on, you’ve heard for yourselves, these witnesses are contradicting themselves,” he said.
Owino specifically questioned how the charge sheet could indicate that it was prepared on April 24 while the arrest was recorded as having taken place on April 25, noting that an exhibit memo allegedly indicated April 29 as the date of arrest.
He also questioned the evidence surrounding an alleged firearm presented in the case, saying the contradictions raised doubts about the prosecution’s case.
The MP further accused some security officers of being involved in unlawful arrests and alleged that some officers had been involved in abductions and killings, claims that were made in the context of his criticism of security operations.
“We know you. We have your photos. We have your videos,” he said, referring to officers he accused of being involved in such operations.
Owino said he would continue using the courts to challenge what he described as misconduct by security officers, while urging DCI officers to carry out their duties professionally.
His appearance at the Vihiga Law Courts also turned into a wider political statement, with Owino speaking about his political activities and the Mwana’inchi Party.
He described the party as a national political outfit with ambitions of fielding candidates for parliamentary and county positions across the country.
Owino said the party was targeting about 100 Members of Parliament and would seek to expand its presence across different regions ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The MP’s remarks came against the backdrop of growing political activity ahead of the 2027 polls, with opposition-aligned politicians increasingly using public forums and court appearances to raise concerns over the conduct of security agencies and political freedoms.
For Owino, however, the immediate focus remained the two Vihiga rally suspects, whom he said he had gone to court to support, as the proceedings continue.
