Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has accused President William Ruto’s government of double standards in the fight against corruption, claiming the Executive is the “epicenter” of graft.

Speaking on Spice FM on Thursday, August 21, Owino said the administration is “shifting goalposts” and weaponising the war on corruption to target rivals while shielding insiders.

“He who comes to equity must come with clean hands. But the Executive is already rotten… If the president is genuine about fighting corruption, he must start with his own house,” the MP stated.

Owino pointed to alleged scandals, including claims of billions siphoned through the e-Citizen platform, and questioned the construction of a church at State House.

“How much does the president earn monthly? How much has he accumulated in three years? Is it enough to build such a church? The figures don’t add up,” he said.

The lawmaker dismissed Ruto’s assertion that Parliament is the “center of corruption,” arguing that any bribery in the House originates from the Executive.

“Where does the money come from? If MPs are bribed, it is money trickling down from the Executive. Therefore, corruption starts at the presidency,” Owino remarked.

He further questioned the creation of a new multi-agency team to tackle corruption, saying it undermines bodies mandated by the Constitution.

“Why form an unconstitutional body when we already have EACC and DCI? Corruption should not just be talked about. It should be fought,” he noted.

According to Owino, the renewed anti-graft drive is part of a political strategy ahead of the 2027 elections.

“We are entering campaign mode. You will see handouts disguised as empowerment, but what are you empowering when mama mboga only receives 64 shillings, or 40 youths share one motorbike? This is deception,” he said.

On his absence from a recent joint ODM–UDA parliamentary group meeting, Owino said he was neither consulted nor convinced by the coalition deal.

“When the NADCO report and the broad-based government deal was being drafted, I was not consulted. If they didn’t consult me then, why consult me now?” he posed.

“On that day, I chose to perform my conjugal rites, which to me was more important than attending the meeting.”

Despite being branded a “rebel” within ODM, Owino affirmed his loyalty to Raila Odinga.

“I respect Baba. He is my Party leader, and I will never fight him in public. But ODM stands for democracy. I have a democratic right to oppose any wrongdoing, whether from the government or elsewhere,” he said.

Senior officials of the Democracy for Citizens’ Party (DCP) gathered at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Thursday ahead of the arrival of their party leader, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

The party confirmed that Gachagua is scheduled to land in Nairobi from the United States at noon on August 21, 2025, and has mobilised both its leadership and supporters to receive him.

In a statement released earlier this week, DCP urged members of the public to assemble at the airport from 8 a.m. to allow for proper organisation and coordination of the welcome ceremony.

According to the party, thousands of supporters are expected to attend the event, with delegations traveling from various parts of the country, including Teso land and other regions.

“Last week, we announced that our party leader, Rigathi Gachagua, will return to the country on Thursday, August 21, 2025, at noon from the USA. We want to confirm that his return is as scheduled. We have supporters travelling from all over, including Teso Land, and we want to ensure smooth coordination,” the statement read.
Plans for a peaceful march

The DCP further revealed that the reception at JKIA will be followed by a peaceful march starting from the airport.

The event is intended not only to welcome Gachagua but also to demonstrate the party’s growing strength and unity.

Party leaders emphasised that the gathering will remain peaceful, adding that security arrangements have been formally requested from the police.

The party also cautioned against any attempts to block or disrupt the event, insisting that the constitution grants citizens the right to peaceful assembly.

“We are calling on Kenyans to show up at JKIA early to receive our leader and participate in a peaceful march that will begin at the airport. We have asked the police for security support, and we expect a smooth event without disruptions,” the DCP statement continued.

According to organisers, the return of Gachagua is not only symbolic but also politically significant, as it marks the former Deputy President’s first public appearance since his recent trip to the United States. Party officials have described the reception as a moment of renewal for DCP, portraying it as a demonstration of loyalty to their leader.