NAIROBI, Kenya – Outspoken Embakasi East MP Paul Ongili, better known as Babu Owino, has opened up about how he was recently detained in neighbouring Tanzania.
It is not yet clear why Babu Owino travelled to Tanzania, but he was later hosted by the government of Burkina Faso in the capital, Ouagadougou.
“Recently, I flew to Tanzania. However, when I arrived at the Dar-es-Salaam Airport and handed my passport to be cleared by the immigration authorities, they wrote there that I was on the Tanzanian Interpol wanted list,” said Babu Owino.
The youthful Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) MP lamented that he was not allowed to get into Tanzania through Dar-es-Salaam.
I was not allowed to enter Tanzania. I was detained for three hours because I was on Tanzania’s Interpol wanted list – Babu Owino.
“I was detained at the airport for three hours on grounds that I am on their Interpol Wanted list. I explained to them that I had never committed any offence in Tanzania, let alone stealing a chicken, insisting to know why they detained me,” he added.
Which other country has Babu Owino been banned from entering
Babu Owino disclosed that he has also been banned from travelling to Uganda.
“I can’t enter Uganda because I am banned there. So, what are these things that we are trying to do as leaders? But do I need anything in Tanzania anyway? What is there I need in Tanzania that I can’t get in Kenya? But look at Tanzania now; it is doing better than Kenya because their taxes are reasonable,” explained Babu Owino.
Meanwhile, during his visit to Burkina Faso, Babu Owino held a consultative meeting with Karamoko Jean Marie Traore, Minister for Foreign Affairs for Burkina Faso.
What Babu Owino discussed with Karamoko Jean Marie Traore
In the meeting, Babu Owino revealed that they discussed the deep relations that the people of Kenya and Burkina Faso have enjoyed over the years.
“We emphasised how we could leverage the youth demographic dividend to spur economic transformation in both our countries. Recognising the need for strong trade ties, Jean Marie assured me that he would champion stronger trade relations between Burkina Faso and Kenya and implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCTA),” he said.
According to Babu Owino, Jean Marie conveyed greetings from President Ibrahim Traore and explained that Gen Z in Burkina Faso similarly wants change, employment, and economic transformation in their country, a vision they both share.
“We agreed to work together to re-energise and strengthen the Pan-African Youth Parliament as a mechanism for dialogue about our continental challenges, ranging from food insecurity, conflict, and disease. This is the beginning of a long and fruitful collaboration between us and the Burkinabe leadership and people,” explained Babu Owino.
