No Babu, No Learning: University of Nairobi Students Protest against Arrest of Babu Owino

University of Nairobi students on Thursday engaged anti-riot police officers in running battles as they protested against the arrest of Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino.

Paul Ongili alias Babu Owino was arrested on Monday over alleged abusive remarks directed to President Uhuru Kenyatta and was charged with subversion among other charges at the Milimani law courts on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, chief Magistrate Francis Andayi freed Owino on a sh 500,000 bail and two sureties of Sh1 million each, but was later re-arrested moments after his release and taken to Pangani police station.

Police were forced to fire tear-gas canisters at the crowd after it turned rowdy on learning that Owino had been rearrested and driven away. "I have been re-arrested by flying squad officers who are holding me at Pangani Police Station," wrote Owino on Twitter.

On Thursday, Babu was arraigned at Kibera Court where he was charged with assaulting a voter during the August 8th election at a polling station in Embakasi East constituency and blocking him from voting. Owino denied the charges with the defence pleading with the court grants him bail since he has been in custody since Monday.

If found guilty, the first count attracts life imprisonment while the second count under the Election Act attracts Ksh1 million fine or a jail term not exceeding six years.

University of Nairobi students demanded the release of the youthful MP, accusing the police of mishandling him. Babu served as the Chairman of the Students Organisation of Nairobi University for two terms.

Several students were arrested during the engagement that lasted for hours.

"No Babu, no learning," the students shouted during the demos