Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino has said it is impossible for anyone to stage a teargas attack.
During an exclusive interview with a local TV station on Sunday, February 22, 2026, Babu Owino wondered loudly how citizens can possess teargas.
He went on to state that even a Grade 6 pupil knows that teargas is property of the police, just like guns and bullets.65
He was responding to reports from government allies of staging a Kakamega teargas attack on Saturday, February 21, 2026, during the Linda Mwananchi event.
“Where did these citizens get teargas from if it is not from the police?” Babu posed.
“If it is from the police, why would the police have an intention to give an ordinary citizen tear gas? Is it not for destruction purposes?” he added.
The lawmaker maintained that his team did not engage in violence despite the chaos that was witnessed.
“We saved those goons who came to attack us; we don’t respond evil with evil,” he said.
Babu further linked the incident to the broader economic challenges facing young people, arguing that many are vulnerable due to lack of jobs and food.
“We are fighting for those goons because they don’t have jobs, they don’t have a meal for the next day. A youth in this country may want to die, that youth is so poor, but that youth has no money to buy a rope to hang himself,” he stated.
The MP also reflected on his background and familiarity with youths in the region.
“I was born and raised in Kisumu. I know all these boys; these are people we grew up with,” he said.
According to him, economic hardship has left many young men exposed to exploitation.
“Because the government cannot provide jobs to these young men, they are now using, misusing, and abusing them by giving them 1000 shillings to kill, maim and destroy property,” he remarked.
Babu also spoke about the human cost of violence. “As we speak, a woman has been turned to a widow,” he said, while urging authorities to conduct investigations in accordance with the law.
He further stated: “If somebody is to be arrested, Murkomen, the police and the DCI should start by arresting Raymond Omollo.”
Authorities are yet to issue an official statement regarding the teargas incident in Kakamega as debate continues over what transpired during the event.
