MP Babu Owino Speaks on Drug Use, His Journey to Becoming Sober

As Babu Owino, the Member of Parliament for Embakasi East, burst onto the political scene and secured a seat in the National Assembly, he was also grappling with drug addiction amidst his achievements.

In a recent interview, the youthful politician confessed to his past indulgence in hard liquor, cocaine, and traditional alcoholic beverages. However, he has since turned his life around and now remains sober, dedicating himself to his political career and the betterment of his constituents. Babu views his wild past as a valuable part of his youth, which has ultimately granted him wisdom and a keen awareness of the detrimental consequences associated with such a lifestyle.

He emphasizes his lack of regret for his previous actions and highlights his transformation into a national figure who is determined to uplift the lives of those he represents. Babu also expresses his belief that many leaders, including Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, have failed in their duty to improve the lives of the people they serve. His journey away from drug use began in January 2020. He reached a tipping point when he found himself embroiled in a gun-related incident at a club in Nairobi. Owino has climbed the political ladder to establish himself as one of the most vocal members of the Kenyan parliament.

His supporters view Owino as a self-made politician whose journey began within the halls of power at the University of Nairobi (UoN), where he served at the Student Organization of Nairobi University (SONU) before venturing into national politics. However, his detractors perceive the second-term MP as a troublemaker and an unpredictable force, arguing that his past actions and statements should disqualify him from holding office. As a result, he is both adored and despised, a testament to his burgeoning political prominence.

As he positions himself for higher elective positions, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) MP has triumphed in two elections. In the 2017 General Election, he emerged victorious with an impressive 46,587 votes. In the 2022 General Election, he successfully defended his position by securing 57,410 votes, surpassing his nearest rival Francis Mureithi from the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) who managed to garner 29,104 votes.