NAIROBI, Kenya — Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has accused officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) of unlawfully arresting and assaulting his personal bodyguard, identified as Oliver, and the officer’s wife under what he termed unclear circumstances.
In a Facebook post on February 24, the outspoken legislator said he was alarmed to learn that the two had allegedly been assaulted by the same officers who took them into custody. He claimed that neither he nor Oliver’s family had been informed of the charges facing the couple.
“I have received deeply troubling news that my security officer, Oliver, and his wife were arrested today and reportedly assaulted by rogue officers attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations,” Babu said.
He demanded immediate clarification from the authorities and called for strict adherence to constitutional safeguards, including due process and transparency.
“No Kenyan should be subjected to intimidation, unlawful arrest, or violence by those entrusted to uphold the law,” he added.
The lawmaker linked the arrests to what he described as a pattern of targeting individuals close to him. Days earlier, his brother-in-law Geoffrey Adjiki — who also serves on his security team — was reportedly picked up by six DCI officers on February 17.
According to Babu, Adjiki called him shortly after being apprehended, stating he was being taken to Nairobi area police headquarters. However, he allegedly never arrived at the station, and his whereabouts remained unknown for several days.
Babu said he personally went to the police headquarters in search of Adjiki but was unable to trace him. Adjiki later resurfaced in Machakos in the early hours of Friday, having reportedly been dropped off at around 4 a.m.
In a separate incident on February 21, Babu alleged that additional members of his security team were arrested and detained at Kisumu Central Police Station following the Linda Mwananchi rally held in Kakamega County.
He claimed the officers were not apprehended by local Kisumu police but by DCI officers flown in from Nairobi. The MP linked the arrests to political tensions surrounding the rally and alleged that the actions were meant to intimidate his team.
Babu further alleged that the detentions were connected to disagreements over alleged coordination efforts involving Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo.
As of press time, the DCI had not issued a public statement addressing the allegations. The incidents raise fresh concerns over law enforcement conduct, constitutional protections against arbitrary arrest under Article 49, and the broader climate of political contestation.
Human rights observers have previously emphasised that any arrest must be lawful, transparent, and supported by clear charges, with suspects presented in court within the constitutional timelines.
