Babu Owino has criticised Johnson Sakaja over what he termed as poor leadership at the Nairobi City County Government.
Speaking during a press release in Nairobi on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, the Embakasi East MP accused the governor of being compromised by cartels that have allegedly affected service delivery in the city.
Allegations of Cartel Links and Bribery
Owino claimed that Sakaja had been working with powerful cartels and receiving bribes linked to payments for services that were never delivered.
“He is the biggest cartel. This is the man who has stolen the money from Nairobians, and you know, at one point, the DCI had recommended that this person be arrested, and the file is with the DPP. I don’t know why the DPP is sleeping on the file,” Babu said.
He alleged that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) had previously recommended action, and questioned why the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had not acted.
Escalating Political Tensions
The remarks mark the latest escalation in political tensions within Nairobi, as leaders trade accusations over governance and accountability in the capital.
Governor Sakaja has previously defended his administration’s record, citing ongoing reforms and efforts to streamline revenue collection and service delivery.
Nairobi County has in recent years faced scrutiny over financial management, procurement processes and delivery of essential services such as waste management, roads and health facilities.
Owino’s comments are likely to intensify debate over accountability in the county government, particularly as political realignments gather pace ahead of the 2027 General Election.
