‘Reformed’ Babu Owino Quits Alcohol, Asks Kenyans to Forgive Him for Past Mistakes
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has pleaded with Kenyans to forgive him for all the bad things he has done in the past.
Babu, who does not shy away from controversy, accepted he has not been a good person but noted that he is only human hence prone to mistakes.
After a personal reflection, Babu says he has resolved to turn a new leaf and will strive to become a better person and leader.
He appeared to blame his bad behavior on his upbringing in Kisumu’s Nyalenda slums, where his mother used to make and sell illicit liquor.
“My mum raised me in the slums selling chang’aa; she did not do it because she loved it. She did it because she wanted us to get an education; she did it because she wanted us to get food; she did it because it was the only option, the only source of living that she could get,” Babu says in a video posted on his Facebook page on Sunday.
“I remember the first time I tasted chang’aa I was 8 years old, I did it because that was the norm in the slum for everybody. Since then I’ve been taking alcohol, and I’ve had my challenges and ups and downs. I’ve reached a turning point and I’ve decided to make a change; a change that I am proud of; a change that my family is proud of.”
He added: “That is why it has been six months, nine days since I last touched alcohol. I regularly pray, I fellowship with my wife who has a fellowship group and I’m looking inwards to become a better person.”
He thanked his wife, Fridah Muthoni for standing by his side despite his many shortcomings.
“Being an MP is not the most important thing. The most important thing is to know who I am as a person; the most important thing for my kids is who I am as their dad; the most important thing for my wife is who I am as her husband; the most important thing for the people is who I am as Babu,” he stated.
“I want to tell the Kenyan people that even now I am not perfect, and I will work continually on some of the weaknesses that I have in life and strive to be a better person; strive to be a servant leader who will change the lives of my people.”
Babu is currently facing attempted murder charges for shooting Felix Orinda, alias DJ Evolve, at a bar in Kilimani early this year.