Why Babu Owino Was Kicked Out Of Parliament

Before heading to the National Assembly, Babu Owino had been at the Milimani Law Courts acting as senior counsel for Ndiangui Kinyagia

Viral Tea Ke Writer Viral Tea Ke Writer
Jul 1, 2025 - 17:30 Updated: Jul 1, 2025 - 17:34
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Why Babu Owino Was Kicked Out Of Parliament
Babu Owino at the Milimani Law Courts on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. /BABU OWINO

Embakasi East Member of Parliament (MP) Babu Owino was dramatically kicked out of Parliament on Tuesday, July 1, for what was deemed inappropriate dressing.

Speaker Moses Wetang'ula ordered Babu to leave and change his outfit before he could return to the chambers.

Babu had shown up wearing an advocate’s gown, which sparked criticism from Mathare MP Tom Oluoch, who publicly challenged his choice of attire.

Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino alongside senior counsel Martha Karua at the Milimani Law Courts on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. /BABU OWINO

"If I look at the speaker's panel, including yourself, you are dressed in a collar. Is it in order that the member from Embakasi East walks and sits in the house dressed as the speaker? We need guidance on whether this forms part of the proper dressing code of this house," Oluoch lamented.

"This honourable member may have been admitted the other day, but that dressing code may cause confusion."

Wetang’ula, siding with the Mathare MP, promptly directed Babu Owino to exit the House and only return after changing his clothes.

"Indeed, Babu Owino, you are improperly dressed. Even your seniors (counsels) have never turned up dressed like that. I order you to retreat from the house, dress up and come back," Wetangula ordered.

Before heading to the National Assembly, Babu Owino had been at the Milimani Law Courts acting as senior counsel for Ndiangui Kinyagia, a blogger who has been missing since June 22, a span of 10 days.

During the hearing, which the main respondent, Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Amin Mohamed, failed to attend, the High Court once again summoned the DCI chief to appear on Thursday to account for Kinyagia’s disappearance.

Speaking to the press outside court, the Embakasi East MP criticised the DCI boss and pledged to stay on Kinyagia’s case until the end.

"The DCI has decided it is not about prosecution but persecution. We, as leaders and advocates of Ndiangui Kinyagia, will pursue this matter to its logical end. This will be the last issue of abduction in this country," Babu Owino said. 

Parliament’s dress code rules have been a hot topic for ages, sometimes even sparking comical situations.

In November 2023, Wetangula announced that it was illegal for Members of Parliament (MPs) to wear Kaunda suits to the August House, a fashion trend popularised by President William Ruto.

In an address to the National Assembly, Wetangula classified the fashion suits, also known as Mao Zedong coats, as an improper dress that went against the rules of the House regarding dress code.

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula during a Parliament session on February 11, 2025. /NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

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