Embakasi East Member of Parliament (MP) Babu Owino has requested a special sitting in the National Assembly to tackle what he has termed as “urgent matters regarding the state of security in the country.”
The outspoken lawmaker, who has been among the most vocal leaders in the wake of abductions in the country, wrote a letter addressing the Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetangula on Sunday, December 29.
While naming several individuals who were reportedly abducted or went missing in recent weeks, Babu Owino noted that the public was unsettled since the whereabouts of some of the individuals remained unknown to date.
Further, the MP was particularly concerned that all the individuals who went missing had one thing in common – they openly criticised the Kenya Kwanza Government at some point.
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino speaking in Embakasi Constituency in September 2022.
Photo
Babu Owino
“There is growing public anxiety over the role of state agencies in these abductions, particularly the involvement of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), the Inspector General of Police, and the role of telecommunications companies,” his letter read.
He added, “In light of these disturbing developments, I request that the National Assembly urgently convene a special sitting before the scheduled vetting of Cabinet nominees.”
Babu Owino believes the sitting will offer a platform to bring several key stakeholders in national security to book.
He specifically mentioned Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja Director of Criminal Investigations Amin Ibrahim and the new Cabinet Secretary for Interior Mr Onesmus Murkomen as government officials who needed to answer pressing questions regarding the state of security in the country.
Last week, IG Kanja openly distanced the country’s security agencies from any wrong-doing in the alleged abductions – sentiments which thoroughly angered Babu Owino, who called for the IG’s resignation.
More recently, CS Murkomen also denied any police involvement in the abductions, stating that anyone arrested by the police ought to be taken to court within 24 hours.
“As a government, we agree that NPS under the command of Inspector General is independent and so we are not going to interfere with their work,” Murkomen said.
Meanwhile, President William Ruto, in one of his first remarks since the abduction wave hit nationwide headlines, reiterated the government’s commitment to end the worrying vice.
A photo collage of Bernard Kavuli, Peter Muteti and Billy Mwangi who were reportedly abducted for sharing AI-generate images of the President.