Orengo accompanies Babu Owino to DCI over alleged harassment of aide

Embakasi East MP Babu Owino accompanied by Siaya Governor James Orengo alongside his security aide Oliver Ochieng at the DCI Headquarters on May 6, 2026 / Screengrab

Siaya Governor James Orengo on Wednesday accompanied Embakasi East MP Babu Owino to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters, where the two protested what they termed as continued harassment of the MP’s personal security aide.

The leaders appeared at the DCI offices alongside the aide, Oliver Ochieng, who is reportedly under scrutiny over alleged possession of a gun.

The visit followed claims that Ochieng has been repeatedly targeted by law enforcement despite no formal charges being preferred against him.

Babu Owino claimed the police were using investigations as a tool to intimidate individuals linked to him politically, arguing that due process was not being followed.

“Police are telling us that they are doing their work, but the work is to harass people. Today, my security aide, Oliver Ochieng, was here at the DCI. If he has committed an offence, why was he not arrested here?” Owino claimed.

He claimed there were fears the aide could be arrested outside Nairobi despite voluntarily presenting himself to investigators.

“Oliver is here today, but tomorrow, when he goes to Kisumu, he will be arrested. Let everyone do their work; there is no need to undermine people,” he claimed.

Governor Orengo raised constitutional concerns over the conduct of police operations, warning against external interference in law enforcement decisions.

“Under the Constitution, the National Police Service is not supposed to be under the direction of any power or authority on matters of its operations,” Orengo said.

“It is clear that police officers’ power and authority are being influenced from outside the service on who to arrest, who not to arrest, who to charge and who not to charge. This is against the Constitution.”

He called on the Inspector General of Police to assert independence and ensure that policing remains free from political direction.

Ochieng, who accompanied the leaders, claimed he has lived under constant fear due to repeated arrests and what he described as persistent targeting.

“I have been arrested so many times, and sometimes they let me go because they can’t find any charges. I don’t live in peace because people are after me,” he claimed.

The aide linked the alleged harassment to his association with the legislator, urging authorities to focus on genuine criminal activity instead.

“I support Babu Owino, and that is why I am being followed. Stop harassing us and go after people committing crimes out there,” he added.