Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has responded to summons issued by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), accusing the officers of acting under questionable instructions.
In a letter addressed to the Western Region DCI Regional Director on Tuesday, March 17, Babu claimed that junior officers had been dispatched to summon him to Kakamega for questioning over the Linda Mwananchi rally.
“In the past few days, junior officers allegedly working on your instructions have purported to summon me to appear before them in Kakamega for interrogations over the successful Linda Mwananchi rally that took place at Amalemba grounds and Mbale,” he said.
Babu questioned the motives behind the summons, suggesting that the regional director may be acting under pressure from higher authorities.
“While I appreciate the kind of pressure you are going through from your superiors, I advise that your focus should be on preserving the oath of office you took, which oath binds you to the rule of law,” he added.
Babu further alleged that the choice of Kakamega as the venue for the interrogation was deliberate and aimed at intimidating him.
“Secondly, it is my view that the choice of Kakamega as the venue of torture is not only meant to intimidate and blackmail me, but is a testament to the regime’s determination to suppress the voice of the people,” he continued.
Babu maintained that any legal action against him should be conducted in Nairobi, arguing that there is no legal basis for him to be handled in Kakamega unless a specific court exists there for the matter.
“Unless there exists a specialized court to deal with me in Kakamega, I advise you to ask your superiors to pursue their malice against me in Nairobi,” he further said.
Babu also referenced a Court of Appeal ruling, calling on investigators to properly interpret its implications, particularly regarding the use of cybercrime laws in handling political cases.
“Thirdly, I advise you to break down the Court of Appeal Judgement in Civil Appeal No. 197 of 2020 on the Computer Misuse and Cyber Crimes Act 2018 and explain its jurisprudential impact on the use of the said Act to pursue and contain progressive forces within a suffocated democracy,” he explained.
Babu reminded the DCI official of the responsibility that comes with public office, outlining the need for independence in the exercise of power.
“Further, as a man entrusted with the Western Region as the Regional County investigations Officer, I refuse to believe that you are merely a conveyor belt. You hold an office of public trust on behalf of the people of Kenya. The power and privilege that comes with this office should not blind you,” he concluded.
