Speaker Throws Out Babu Owino for Dressing Like a Judge
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino was dramatically ejected from the National Assembly on Tuesday, July 1, over what was deemed inappropriate attire.
Speaker Moses Wetang’ula ordered the outspoken lawmaker to leave the chamber and return only after changing into proper parliamentary clothing. Babu had arrived dressed in a full advocate’s gown, which drew immediate attention from Mathare MP Tom Oluoch.
Raising concern on the floor, Oluoch questioned the appropriateness of Babu’s appearance. “Looking at the Speaker’s panel, including yourself, Mr. Speaker, everyone is in a collar. Is it in order for the Embakasi East member to dress like the Speaker himself? We need clarification on whether this fits the dress code,” he stated, warning that the outfit might cause confusion in the House.
Speaker Wetang’ula concurred, stating, “Indeed, Babu Owino, you are improperly dressed. Even your senior colleagues at the Bar do not dress like that in Parliament. I instruct you to leave, change, and return properly attired.”
Earlier in the day, Babu Owino had appeared at the Milimani Law Courts in his capacity as a senior counsel to represent blogger Ndiangui Kinyagia, who has been missing since June 22. During the court session, which was conducted in the absence of DCI Director Amin Mohamed, the judge ordered the DCI chief to appear in court on Thursday to account for Kinyagia’s whereabouts.
Speaking to the press outside the court, Babu Owino criticized the DCI boss, claiming the agency had shifted from prosecution to persecution. “This will be the last case of abduction in this country. We, as leaders and advocates for Ndiangui Kinyagia, will see this case to the very end,” he vowed.
Parliament’s dress code has long sparked debate and occasional light-hearted exchanges. In June, a similar dispute arose when Mbita MP Millie Odhiambo challenged Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba over wearing yellow in the chamber—suggesting the outfit had political undertones, given Wamuchomba’s known alliance with Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
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Speaker Throws Out Babu Owino for Dressing Like a Judge
