Who is Babu Owino?
Babu Owino, whose real and full name is Paul Ongili Owino, is a Kenyan politician, lawyer, and former student leader. He was born on October 10, 1989, in the Nyalenda informal settlement in Kisumu County, Western Kenya.
He is the Member of Parliament for Embakasi East Constituency in Nairobi, a seat he has held since 2017 on the ticket of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). He is one of the youngest MPs ever elected in Kenya and one of the most outspoken members of the National Assembly.
Since May 2025, he has also been a qualified Advocate of the High Court of Kenya. He belongs to the Luo ethnic community and identifies as a Christian.
| Paul Ongili Owino | |
|---|---|
Paul Ongili Owino: History · Bio · Photo
|
|
| Wiki Facts & About Data | |
| Full Name: | Paul Ongili Owino |
| Stage Name: | Babu Owino |
| Born: | October 10, 1989 |
| Age: | 36 years old |
| Birthplace: | Nyalenda, Kisumu County, Kenya |
| Nationality: | Kenyan |
| Occupation: | Politician · Lawyer · Advocate of the High Court of Kenya · Former Student Leader |
| Religion: | Christianity |
| Parents: | Dorcas Owino |
| Spouse: | Fridah Muthoni Ongili |
| Children: | Three (two daughters with Fridah; one son from a previous relationship) |
| Relationship: | Married |
| Net Worth: | Estimated KSh 300 million – KSh 820 million (approx. $2.3M – $6.3M USD) |
Early Life
Paul Ongili Owino was born on October 10, 1989, in the Nyalenda informal settlement one of the largest and most densely populated low-income urban communities in Kisumu City, the capital of Kisumu County in Western Kenya.
Nyalenda is a community characterised by extreme poverty, inadequate infrastructure, limited access to clean water and sanitation, and high rates of unemployment conditions that, for most children born there, set a ceiling on ambition and possibility. For Babu Owino, they had the opposite effect.
His father, Domnic Owino Orieyo, passed away when Babu was still in Class Three approximately eight or nine years old leaving the family without its primary breadwinner. The loss of his father at such a young and formative age was a defining event in Babu’s life.
The responsibility of providing for the family fell to his mother, Dorcas Owino, a woman of exceptional resilience who reportedly sustained the household through various means of informal economic activity, including selling chang’aa an illicit traditional brew to local buyers.
Young Babu witnessed his mother being routinely harassed and arrested by local authorities for her unlicensed liquor trade, an experience that left a deep and lasting imprint on him.
In a moment of unusual candour, Babu later attributed his entire commitment to the law and to political activism directly to those childhood observations: watching a system of authority that seemed designed to punish the poor and the powerless, rather than to protect them.
He has said that witnessing police brutality and systemic injustice in the slums of Nyalenda planted in him a burning desire to understand the law and use it as a weapon for the defence of ordinary Kenyans.
In a widely shared statement made upon his admission to the Bar in 2025, he stated: “This achievement is not about personal grandiosity. It is about sharpening the tools of service.”
Also notable from Babu’s early life is his extraordinary academic ability. Despite the poverty of his background and the absence of his father, he performed consistently well at school driven, by all accounts, by an intense personal ambition and a mother whose determination to see her son succeed was unshakeable.
He hails from the Yimbo Yimbo East location, Pala sub-location, Kachwiji Clan, as he himself confirmed publicly in a post on X (formerly Twitter) in response to critics who questioned his Kenyan identity. His mother’s family originates from Sagam, Gem Yala.
Education
Babu Owino began his primary school education at Kisumu Township Primary School, which he attended from 1995 to 2002. He also attended Central Primary School in Kisumu at some point during his primary years.
His academic ability was evident from an early age his favourite subject was Mathematics, and he excelled in numerical and analytical reasoning, foreshadowing his later pursuit of Actuarial Science.
In 2003, he joined the prestigious Kisumu Boys High School (also known as Kisumu Boys’ Secondary School), one of the most competitive secondary schools in Western Kenya. He sat for his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations in 2006, recording a straight A one of the strongest performances possible in Kenya’s national examination system.
His performance earned him a scholarship to pursue further studies under the Cambridge International Education system, through which he enrolled at Millennium School and graduated with six Cambridge A-level diplomas an impressive portfolio of qualifications that positioned him for admission to Kenya’s most prestigious university.
In 2008, Babu enrolled at the University of Nairobi Kenya’s oldest and most distinguished public university where he pursued a Bachelor’s Degree in Actuarial Science.
He was an outstanding student, graduating in 2012 with First Class Honours the highest distinction awarded by the university, achieved by only a small fraction of students in any given graduating cohort.
His degree in Actuarial Science a mathematically intensive discipline focused on financial risk analysis, probability, and statistics demonstrated the depth and rigour of his intellectual abilities.
He subsequently pursued a Master’s Degree in Actuarial Science at the same institution. In 2013, he returned to the University of Nairobi to pursue a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree, and later obtained a Master’s Degree in Law as well.
He thus holds degrees in both Actuarial Science and Law at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels a remarkable academic achievement for anyone, let alone someone who grew up in one of Kenya’s most impoverished urban communities.
On November 12, 2023, Babu Owino was awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree PhD in Political Leadership from Weldios University in Benin, in recognition of his contributions to youth empowerment and political leadership.
The culmination of his legal education came on May 23, 2025, when Babu Owino was formally admitted to the Roll of Advocates of the High Court of Kenya. The admission ceremony was held at the Supreme Court of Kenya and was presided over by Chief Justice Martha Koome.
He was among 609 new lawyers admitted on that day. He described the milestone as “a historic chapter” in his journey and, in a powerful act symbolic of his commitment to social justice, visited Nairobi prisons shortly after his admission and personally paid the fines of over 200 petty offenders to secure their release demonstrating that his legal qualification was not an end in itself but a new instrument for serving the most vulnerable.
Career
Student Leadership: SONU Chairmanship (2011–2016)
Babu Owino’s path to national prominence began not in a political party office or a parliamentary chamber, but on the grounds of the University of Nairobi.
In 2011, while still a student, he contested and won the chairmanship of the Students Organisation of Nairobi University (SONU) the main student representative body of East Africa’s oldest public university. He was elected alongside his long-time supporter, Sammy Aluse (aka Shash).
Babu’s leadership of SONU was nothing short of transformative. He was re-elected to the position three consecutive times, serving from 2011 to approximately 2016 making him widely recognised as the longest-serving SONU chairman in the organisation’s history and one of the most celebrated student leaders Kenya had ever produced.
His tenure was marked by aggressive advocacy for student welfare, bold confrontations with university administration, and an instinctive talent for mobilising his peers around shared causes. He revived a tradition of vigorous student activism at the University of Nairobi at a time when student politics in Kenya had become relatively passive, and his leadership was credited with raising the profile of student concerns at both the institutional and national levels.
During his time as SONU chairman, Babu was simultaneously pursuing his law degree demonstrating an extraordinary capacity to manage demanding academic commitments alongside the full-time responsibilities of student governance and public advocacy.
He also reportedly supported himself and his studies during this period through various means, including, according to some accounts, selling chang’aa on campus a claim he has not publicly disputed and which, if true, mirrors his mother’s own means of survival in Nyalenda.
First Attempt at National Politics: Westlands Constituency (2013)
Even before completing his chairmanship of SONU, Babu Owino harboured clear ambitions for national elected office.
In 2013, he contested the ODM party nomination for the Westlands Constituency parliamentary seat in Nairobi. He lost the nomination to Tim Wanyonyi, a more established political figure. The defeat was an early lesson in the realities of competitive party politics, but it did not deter him.
He returned to the University of Nairobi, continued his legal studies and SONU leadership, and focused on building the grassroots support base that would eventually carry him to Parliament.
Member of Parliament, Embakasi East: First Term (2017–2022)
In the August 2017 general elections, Babu Owino contested for the Embakasi East parliamentary seat on an ODM ticket. Running against the Jubilee Party candidate Francis Mureithi a more established local political figure Babu campaigned on a platform of youth empowerment, education access, and community development.
He defeated Mureithi decisively, polling 60,856 votes against his opponent’s tally, and became the Member of Parliament for Embakasi East at just 27 years old.
His election victory was immediately challenged in the High Court by rivals who alleged electoral irregularities. The court proceedings were tense and widely followed, but the judges upheld his election win, confirming him as the legitimate MP for Embakasi East.
In Parliament, he quickly established himself as one of the most vocal and combative backbenchers delivering passionate speeches, asking pointed questions, and using every available platform to challenge both the government of President Uhuru Kenyatta and what he considered to be systemic failures to serve the poor and marginalised.
During his first term, Babu initiated several community development projects in Embakasi East, including road construction, hospital upgrades, and school infrastructure improvements.
He also launched the Babu Owino Scholarship Programme an initiative to support needy students from Embakasi East and beyond in accessing secondary and tertiary education. He pledged on multiple occasions to personally pay school fees for students who could not afford them, and has fulfilled those pledges publicly on several occasions.
In May 2022, he pledged to pay secondary school fees for two siblings who had been unable to join Form One due to financial hardship a gesture typical of his publicly visible philanthropic approach.
Re-election: Second Term (2022–present)
In the August 2022 general elections, Babu Owino successfully defended his parliamentary seat, being re-elected as the MP for Embakasi East for a second consecutive term.
His campaign centred on his development record in the constituency, using the Swahili slogan “Nitawachosha na Maendeleo” loosely translated as “I will overwhelm you with development” to communicate his commitment to continued infrastructure and social investment in Embakasi East. The electorate responded positively, handing him a decisive re-election victory.
In his second term, Babu has positioned himself as one of the most consistent critics of President William Ruto’s UDA administration. He played a notable role in the debates surrounding the Finance Bill 2023 the highly controversial budget legislation that sparked the historic Gen Z protests of June 2024, during which hundreds of thousands of Kenyan youth took to the streets to reject proposed tax increases.
Babu had been among the loudest parliamentary voices opposing the bill, and he remained a vocal supporter of the protesters and an advocate for those arrested during the demonstrations.
His relationship with his own party, ODM, became complicated when ODM leader Raila Odinga reached a political accommodation with President Ruto, resulting in the formation of a broad-based government in which several ODM politicians were appointed to cabinet positions.
Babu was one of the ODM MPs who refused to align with this arrangement, along with 27 others who were given a 48-hour ultimatum by the party to justify their opposition. He maintained his stance as an opposition voice, consistently refusing to be drawn into praise for the Ruto administration despite the ODM-UDA rapprochement.
Admission to the Bar and Legal Activism (2025)
On May 23, 2025, Babu Owino was formally admitted to the Roll of Advocates of the High Court of Kenya, officially qualifying as a barrister. Following his admission, he wasted no time in deploying his new legal credentials in the service of public interest causes. He joined a team of senior advocates including Martha Karua and Kalonzo Musyoka representing protesters who had been arrested during the first anniversary commemorations of the Gen Z protests on June 25 and July 7, 2025. He appeared in court at both the Milimani Law Courts and the Kahawa Law Courts, including in cases where protesters faced serious terror-related charges.
2027 Nairobi Governorship Ambitions
As of 2026, Babu Owino has been openly signalling his intention to contest the Nairobi County Governor’s seat in the 2027 general elections. He has stated publicly that he believes he is qualified to serve as Nairobi Governor, and his supporters have been enthusiastically backing the idea. His primary rival for the seat is widely expected to be incumbent Nairobi Governor Johnstone Sakaja. Babu has even hinted at harbouring longer-term presidential ambitions, telling supporters that he feels qualified to eventually run for the presidency of Kenya.
Awards and Recognition
- First Class Honours Bachelor of Actuarial Science, University of Nairobi (2012)
- Cambridge A-Level Six Diplomas Millennium School (post-KCSE)
- Honorary Doctorate (PhD) in Political Leadership Weldios University, Benin (November 12, 2023)
- Admission to the Roll of Advocates, High Court of Kenya (May 23, 2025)
- Consistently ranked among Kenya’s top-performing Members of Parliament recognised in multiple parliamentary performance assessments for his active legislative participation and community development record
- Governing Board Member appointed to the Governing Board of a leading Kenyan educational institution in recognition of his advocacy for education reform
Social Media
Babu Owino is one of the most active and followed Kenyan politicians on social media. He uses his platforms extensively not just for political communication but for personal expression, community announcements, and sometimes for the kind of provocative statements that generate both viral attention and legal trouble.
- Twitter / X: @HEBabuOwino His primary platform for political communication. He posts frequently on national political issues, constituency updates, legal developments, and personal milestones. It is also where he has made some of his most controversial statements, including past posts that led to his arrest on charges of incitement and offensive conduct.
- Instagram: @he.babuowino He shares family moments, constituency work updates, and political highlights on Instagram, giving followers a broader view of both his public and private life.
- Facebook: Babu Owino Official His Facebook page has a large and engaged following, particularly among older Kenyan voters and diaspora communities. He uses it for constituency announcements, political commentary, and live video interactions with supporters.
- TikTok: He has a growing presence on TikTok, where clips of his speeches, debates, and public appearances are widely shared by fans and followers, often generating millions of views and spirited commentary.
Personal Life
Marriage to Fridah Muthoni
Babu Owino is married to Fridah Muthoni Ongili, a woman he met when she was a first-year student at the University of Nairobi during the height of his reign as SONU chairman. Their relationship blossomed on campus and survived the enormous pressures of his escalating public profile, his legal controversies, and the demands of parliamentary life.
As of 2026, the couple has been together for well over a decade, and Babu has repeatedly and publicly declared his deep love and gratitude for his wife.
In an interview with TV47 in June 2023, reflecting on 13 years of marriage, Babu stated: “I am incredibly blessed to have Fridah Muthoni Ongili as my wife, I do not regret having her. I never lack time for my family wife and kids. Every day, I am reminded of how fortunate I am to have such a loving and supportive wife.” Fridah has remained a steady, supportive, and largely low-profile presence throughout her husband’s turbulent public career. When Babu was arrested and detained sometimes in undisclosed locations Fridah was often the first person who stepped forward publicly to advocate for him, including on one occasion tracking him across multiple police stations in Nairobi and beyond to locate and deliver food and medicine to him.
Fridah Muthoni Ongili is of Kikuyu ethnic origin making their marriage a notable cross-ethnic union between a Luo man and a Kikuyu woman, in a country where historical political tensions between the Luo and Kikuyu communities have often been sharp. She is a fashion designer and runs her own clothing brand, @fnmbrand, through which she has established an independent professional identity beyond her role as the wife of a high-profile MP.
Together, Babu and Fridah have two daughters. Babu also has one son from a previous relationship with an unnamed woman, making him the father of three children in total.
Height and Physical Appearance
Babu Owino is of average height for a Kenyan man, carrying himself with the confident, energetic physicality that characterises his public persona. He is known for his animated, gestural speaking style, his sharp dress sense, and an intensity of presence that makes him immediately identifiable in any room or public gathering.
Controversies
The DJ Evolve Shooting (January 2020)
The most serious and consequential controversy of Babu Owino’s career occurred on the night of January 17, 2020, at B-Club a popular upscale nightclub in the Kilimani area of Nairobi. In an incident captured on CCTV footage that was subsequently broadcast across Kenyan and international media, Babu Owino produced a firearm and shot Felix Orinda a popular DJ known professionally as DJ Evolve in the neck at close range.
DJ Evolve was critically wounded. The bullet struck him in the neck and caused severe neurological damage, rendering him unable to walk independently for an extended period. The incident caused a national uproar the visual evidence of a sitting Member of Parliament shooting a young man at close range in a nightclub was damning and inescapable. Babu Owino was arrested and initially charged with attempted murder. He spent seven days in custody before being released on bail.
In his public account of the incident, Babu Owino insisted that the shooting was a tragic accident rather than an intentional act. He claimed that he and DJ Evolve had no personal conflict, and that the DJ had merely asked him about his firearm whether it was real or fake and that he had drawn the weapon to show it, at which point it discharged accidentally. “Felix did not annoy me. He did not do anything wrong to me. Felix just asked me about the item [gun], that ‘is it fake or genuine?’ I just removed it to show. There was nothing wrong that happened between Felix and me,” Babu said publicly.
Many Kenyans found this account difficult to accept, and the incident generated sustained public anger. In December 2021, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) applied to withdraw the attempted murder charge and instead pursue the lesser charge of misuse of a firearm, following a reported civil settlement between Owino and DJ Evolve. The settlement reportedly included Babu purchasing a house and cars for the victim, covering all his hospital bills, and committing to a series of ongoing financial payments. The decision to downgrade the charge sparked fierce public criticism, with many accusing the DPP of enabling impunity for a politically connected individual.
The case on the reduced charge proceeded, but in August 2023, Trial Magistrate Bernard Ochoi acquitted Babu Owino, ruling that the prosecution had failed to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt. The magistrate delivered a scathing assessment of the investigation, noting that the investigating officer had failed to call key witnesses including the person who recovered the bullet and cartridge and had left crucial evidentiary gaps unaddressed. The court’s verdict was greeted with widespread public disappointment by those who felt that Babu had benefited from a combination of political influence and prosecutorial incompetence.
In May 2026 nearly six years after the shooting Babu Owino publicly addressed the DJ Evolve matter again, disclosing that the total cost of his support for the victim and the legal proceedings had amounted to approximately KSh 70 million. He acknowledged the gravity of the event and validated public criticism of his actions, while advocating for a restorative justice framework as his chosen path to accountability. He maintained that the shooting was accidental and that no malice toward DJ Evolve had ever existed on his part.
Assault Incidents
The DJ Evolve shooting was, unfortunately, not an isolated incident of physical confrontation attributed to Babu Owino. He has been reported multiple times for physically assaulting various individuals. In September 2017, he was arrested and charged for assaulting a voter and causing grievous bodily harm. In January 2018, he was arrested for assaulting a parking attendant in Westlands, Nairobi, with his aides despite video evidence appearing to show the assault, he denied involvement. In November 2018, he was involved in a bare-knuckle physical fight with fellow MP and Starehe Constituency MP Jaguar within the parliamentary precinct itself, over differing political positions.
Incitement to Violence and Subversion Charges (2017)
In September 2017, Babu Owino was arrested and charged with subversion, incitement to violence, and offensive conduct conducive to breach of peace, following remarks he made at a political rally in Kawangware, Dagoretti North. He was also separately charged with uttering abusive words against the presidency in a manner calculated to bring hatred to the office of the President of Kenya. He denied all the charges, and the cases eventually collapsed.
Threatening Journalists (2021)
In September 2021, Babu Owino was accused of making threatening phone calls and sending threatening messages to intimidate journalists an accusation that, if proven, would represent a serious attack on press freedom. He denied the allegations. The matter was widely reported but did not result in formal charges.
Finance Bill 2023 and ODM Party Tensions
As a prominent ODM MP, Babu faced internal party pressure when he joined dozens of fellow legislators in failing to appear in Parliament to vote for the Finance Bill 2023. He and 27 other ODM MPs were issued a 48-hour ultimatum by the party to provide a defence for their actions. Babu refused to align with the bill, which he viewed as deeply harmful to ordinary Kenyans, and he remained a vocal champion of the Gen Z protesters who ultimately forced President Ruto to withdraw the bill following mass demonstrations.
Net Worth
Babu Owino’s net worth is a subject of considerable debate and varied estimates across different sources. As a Member of Parliament, he earns approximately KSh 710,000 per month in gross salary and allowances, according to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission of Kenya. Over two parliamentary terms, this alone represents a significant cumulative income.
Beyond his parliamentary income, Babu has built a portfolio of real estate investments reportedly owning several properties across Nairobi and has made investments in education ventures, particularly through his scholarship programme. Reliable estimates of his overall net worth vary considerably: some sources place it between KSh 300 million and KSh 500 million (approximately $2.3 million to $3.9 million USD), while others cite figures as high as KSh 820 million (approximately $6.3 million USD). He has consistently maintained that his wealth is legitimate and can be substantiated through documented earnings and investments.
His major sources of wealth include his parliamentary salary and allowances, real estate holdings in Nairobi (he was notably reported to be living in the upscale Lavington estate even during his campus years, raising early questions about the sources of his income), constituency development fund allocations, legal practice income (post-2025), and business investments. The total cost of the DJ Evolve civil settlement reportedly in the region of KSh 70 million provided a public benchmark for his personal financial capacity.
FAQs About Babu Owino
Who is Babu Owino?
Babu Owino, whose real name is Paul Ongili Owino, is a Kenyan politician and Advocate of the High Court of Kenya. He is the two-term Member of Parliament for Embakasi East Constituency in Nairobi, elected on an ODM ticket in 2017 and re-elected in 2022. He is also a former chairman of the Students Organisation of Nairobi University (SONU).
When was Babu Owino born?
He was born on October 10, 1989, in the Nyalenda informal settlement in Kisumu County, Kenya. He is 36 years old as of 2026.
What is Babu Owino’s real name?
His real and full name is Paul Ongili Owino. “Babu Owino” is his political and popular name.
What tribe is Babu Owino?
He belongs to the Luo ethnic community of Kenya, from the Yimbo Yimbo East location, Pala sub-location, Kachwiji Clan.
Who is Babu Owino’s wife?
He is married to Fridah Muthoni Ongili, a Kikuyu woman and fashion designer who runs the clothing brand @fnmbrand. He met her when she was a first-year student at the University of Nairobi during his tenure as SONU chairman. Together they have two daughters, and he has one son from a previous relationship.
What happened in the DJ Evolve shooting case?
On January 17, 2020, Babu Owino shot DJ Felix Orinda (DJ Evolve) in the neck at B-Club in Nairobi. He was initially charged with attempted murder. The charge was later downgraded to misuse of a firearm following a civil settlement worth approximately KSh 70 million, which included purchasing a house and cars for the victim. In August 2023, the court acquitted Babu Owino after finding that the prosecution had conducted a “shoddy” investigation and failed to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt.
What are Babu Owino’s academic qualifications?
He holds a First Class Honours Bachelor’s degree in Actuarial Science (University of Nairobi, 2012), a Master’s degree in Actuarial Science, a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree, and a Master’s in Law all from the University of Nairobi. He also has six Cambridge A-level diplomas. He was admitted as an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya in May 2025, and holds an Honorary PhD in Political Leadership from Weldios University, Benin (2023).
What is Babu Owino’s net worth?
His net worth is estimated at between KSh 300 million and KSh 820 million (approximately $2.3 million to $6.3 million USD), derived from his parliamentary salary, real estate investments, business ventures, and legal practice income.
Is Babu Owino running for Nairobi Governor in 2027?
Yes. As of 2026, Babu Owino has publicly declared his intention to contest the Nairobi County Governorship in the 2027 general elections. He has identified incumbent Governor Johnstone Sakaja as a likely primary opponent.
What political party does Babu Owino belong to?
He is a member of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), the party led by Raila Odinga. He has, however, positioned himself as an independent opposition voice and has publicly distanced himself from ODM’s accommodation with President Ruto’s UDA administration.
Conclusion
Babu Owino’s life is a story of contradictions raw intellect and reckless behaviour; genuine commitment to the poor and costly personal controversies; passionate advocacy for justice and repeated entanglement with the very legal system he claims to champion. From the dust of Nyalenda slum to the lecture halls of the University of Nairobi, from the student politics of SONU to the floors of Kenya’s National Assembly, and from the disgrace of a nightclub shooting to a formal seat at the bar as an Advocate of the High Court his journey has been one of extraordinary peaks and deeply troubling valleys.
What is undeniable is his impact. He has given thousands of students scholarships. He has built roads, hospitals, and schools in Embakasi East. He has consistently spoken truth to power sometimes recklessly, sometimes brilliantly, always loudly. He has demonstrated that academic excellence and political ambition are not the exclusive preserve of the privileged. And in a political culture often dominated by older, wealthier, and better-connected figures, he has remained a disruptive, youthful, populist force that refuses to be ignored.
Whether he goes on to win the Nairobi Governorship in 2027 or eventually fulfils his stated presidential ambitions, one thing is certain: Babu Owino will remain one of the most talked-about, debated, and consequential figures in Kenyan political life for years to come.
Related People
Leave a Reply