By John Mutiso
Kileleshwa Member of County Assembly Robert Alai has come out with his version of events as he denied drawing a gun to harm Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino.
Alai appeared on a TV interview on Monday, January 5 where he strongly disputed Babu Owino’s allegations where the MP claimed to have been physically harmed and intimidated by the MCA at a restaurant.
Initialy, Babu Owino alleged that Alai had drawn his gun and knocked him with it on his face. The MCA, however, threw blame back to the Embakasi East lawmaker, whom he accused of threatening him once he became governor.
“I didn’t draw a gun on him; there was a gun on my waist but I didn’t draw a gun on him. The person sitting next to me saw the gun on my waist because I was not wearing a jacket, I was wearing a shirt only; the person took the gun away,” Alai claimed.
The member of Nairobi County Assembly has now challenged his accusers to produce evidence of him brandishing a gun at the Embakasi East Member of Parliament.
“If you go to that restaurant, they have a video; produce one video where it shows I drew a gun on him,” Alai said.
On how the altercation started, the MCA says that he was seated at the restaurant when Babu Owino came to his table to greet them. Alai claims that he told Babu that he was not comfortable greeting him.
The Kileleshwa MCA further claims that the MP went ahead to push his head as he allegedly told Alai of how he would appoint him to an executive docket once he assumes office as the Nairobi Governor in 2027.
Alai also claimed that he confronted Babu for involving his family members in politics; however, he maintained his blame on Babu for escalating the matter. Alai insisted that the MP allegedly kept pushing his head, forcing him to stand and push him away.
His version of events contradicts Babu Owino’s story, where he claimed that Alai had poured a glass of water on his face while also drawing a gun on him which was allegedly used to strike Babu Owino on the chest and jaw.
In a statement over the weekend, Babu Owino claimed the incident was politically motivated, describing it as part of a wider pattern of intimidation following the death of Raila Odinga.
The matter is now under police investigation after it was reported at the Kilimani Police Station. The police have confirmed the confiscation of Alai’s firearm.
