Babu Owino Addresses Viral Photo with Ruto's Son

Embakasi East Member of Parliament, Babu Owino, has addressed a viral photo that has been circulating online, setting the record straight on his association with President William Ruto's son, Nick Ruto, and his personal journey of sobriety.

The photo, which features the prominent politician alongside a group of young men, had sparked widespread discussion on social media platforms.

The image in question shows Babu Owino, dressed in a white long-sleeved shirt, seated amidst the young men in what appears to be a bar or lounge. He is smiling while engaging in conversation.

The photograph captures a moment of social gathering, with several beer bottles on the table in front of them. Nick Ruto, also casually dressed, sits beside Owino, appearing to engage him in a handshake.

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Babu Owino has addressed a viral photo // Facebook

Setting the Record Straight

In a recent post, Owino clarified the context of the photo, explaining that it was taken in 2018 and not anytime recently, as the originator of the post was trying to insinuate by captioning it as, “Babu Owino drinking with Nick Ruto”.

Owino stated that the last time he engaged in a merrymaking of such kind was in January 2020, insinuating that the DJ Evolve tragic shooting incident might have been a wake-up call for him to put a stop to reveling.

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“Let me clarify this for the record. The last time I drank alcohol was on January 17th, 2020. The photo below was taken in 2018,” he said.

The MP explained that he has not consumed alcohol for some time, a claim he reiterated in his post.

“I have been sober for the past 5 years.”

Aspiration for Nairobi’s Top Job

Babu Owino's clarification comes amidst his well-known political ambitions for the Nairobi gubernatorial seat. A member of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party, Owino has served as the Member of Parliament for Embakasi East since he was first elected on 31 August 2017.

Before entering Parliament, he gained national recognition as the chairperson of the Students Organisation of Nairobi University (SONU). His long-held ambition to lead Nairobi has been a consistent theme in his political journey.

Owino has been a vocal figure within Kenyan politics, and his recent statements indicate a strong resolve to contest for the city's top job, with or without his party's explicit backing.

Speaking on his vision for Nairobi, Owino outlined a clear agenda for the city's future, focusing on empowering its residents.

He reiterated it on his post, saying his main agenda will be to transform the lives of Nairobi people the way he has transformed himself in the 5 years of sobriety - if his bid for governorship is successful.

“I will transform the lives of Nairobians and Kenyans the way I transformed my Life,” he emphasized.

Owino’s political messaging often centres on youth empowerment and education, themes that he has carried forward from his days as a student leader.

He has consistently championed initiatives for young people and has vowed to bring that same focus to the city of Nairobi.