Babu Owino Opposes Sh6.92 Billion Nairobi Loan, Accuses Sakaja of Using Funds for 2027 Campaigns

Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino has strongly opposed plans by the Nairobi County Government to secure a Sh6.92 billion loan from Sidian Bank, claiming the funds could be misused for political purposes ahead of the 2027 General Election.

In a sharply worded statement, the outspoken legislator called on Members of the Nairobi County Assembly (MCAs) to reject the proposed borrowing, arguing that the loan would burden Nairobi residents without delivering meaningful development.

“Governor Johnson Sakaja is taking a loan of Sh6.92 billion from Sidian Bank. MCAs must reject this. This money will be stolen for campaign purposes,” Babu Owino stated.

The MP further warned that Nairobi residents should not be forced to shoulder the burden of repaying a debt that he believes may not benefit the county.

“Nairobians will not pay back this money and this I promise,” he said.

Babu also took a swipe at Governor Sakaja's administration over the state of sanitation and waste management in the capital city, saying the county leadership had failed to address the persistent garbage problem.

“We cannot finish garbage in Nairobi if there is one in office,” he remarked in an apparent attack on the governor's leadership.

The remarks come amid growing political tensions in Nairobi as leaders begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 elections. The proposed loan has already sparked debate among political leaders and residents, with supporters arguing that the funds could help finance key development projects, while critics question the county's borrowing priorities and accountability mechanisms.

The Nairobi County Assembly is expected to play a crucial role in determining whether the loan proposal proceeds, with MCAs likely to face pressure from both supporters and opponents of the borrowing plan.

Babu Owino, who has increasingly positioned himself as a vocal critic of the Nairobi County Government, has previously raised concerns over governance, service delivery, and financial management at City Hall.

As debate over the Sh6.92 billion loan intensifies, Nairobi residents will be keenly watching how county leaders justify the borrowing and whether safeguards are put in place to ensure public funds are protected from misuse.