NAIROBI, Kenya- Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has promised to confront what he describes as cartels operating within Nairobi’s waste, water and road sectors if elected governor in 2027.
Speaking during K24TV’s Grind & Glory programme, Owino placed the fight against cartel networks at the centre of his pitch for City Hall, saying he would not allow private interests to undermine delivery of essential services to Nairobi residents.
He said his administration would enforce procurement rules, ensure contractors complete awarded work and pay legitimate suppliers promptly, arguing that delayed payments hurt businesses and slow the circulation of money in the city’s economy.
Owino did not name any individuals or firms he described as cartel actors, nor did he set out a specific audit or legal process he would use against them.
A 100-day warning
The lawmaker said cartels should not support his bid, warning that his administration would not accommodate them if he wins the Nairobi gubernatorial contest.
He said the county had to restore order in sectors such as garbage collection, water provision and road construction, where he argued residents were not receiving services that match the revenue collected by City Hall.
Owino promised that garbage would no longer define Nairobi under his leadership, setting a target of dealing with the challenge within his first 100 days in office.
“Cartels, you are going home,” he said, as he appealed to Nairobi voters to back his gubernatorial bid.
The MP’s remarks form part of a broader campaign message that seeks to present him as a hands-on alternative focused on service delivery, jobs and accountability in the capital.
Roads, drainage and health services
Owino criticised Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja’s administration over garbage, poor roads, drainage and flooding, saying the city needed a more deliberate plan to manage storm water and improve sanitation.
He said his proposed agenda would prioritise road construction, drainage, water supply, hospital drugs, timely payment of health workers and county employees, as well as settlement of pending bills.
The Embakasi East MP also pledged to expand Nairobi’s school feeding programme to secondary schools and remove the cost borne by parents, saying food suppliers drawn from local communities should benefit from the initiative.
He further promised to base his choice of a deputy governor on merit and development record rather than ethnicity or political convenience.
‘Trust me with Nairobi’
Owino pointed to projects he said he has undertaken in Embakasi East, including roads, water infrastructure, school improvements and bursary support, as evidence that he can manage the larger Nairobi County government.
He argued that his experience as a constituency MP had prepared him to run the capital, saying voters should judge candidates on their record rather than political alliances.
The lawmaker also maintained that there was no conflict between his Nairobi governor ambition and Edwin Sifuna’s presidential bid, saying the two were pursuing different positions.
As the 2027 race takes shape, Owino is now placing a cleaner city, improved public services and a confrontation with alleged cartels at the heart of his appeal to Nairobi voters.
