Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino has spoken out strongly after being removed from the National Assembly by Speaker Moses Wetangula on Tuesday afternoon.
The incident, which stirred heated debate, occurred after Babu showed up in Parliament dressed in advocate attire—a move that Speaker Wetangula declared as inappropriate for the House.
The dramatic moment began when Mathare MP Anthony Oluoch raised concern over Babu’s dressing. He urged the Speaker to address the matter immediately, questioning whether Babu was attempting to dress like the Speaker himself.
“If you look at the Speaker’s panel, including yourself, you are dressed in a collar. Is it acceptable for the member from Embakasi East to come into the House dressed like the Speaker? We need clarity on whether that kind of attire meets the official dress code of Parliament,” Oluoch said.
Following Oluoch’s concerns, Speaker Wetangula ordered Babu Owino to leave the chambers for failing to adhere to the House’s dress code.
Babu’s choice of dressing—a legal gown and bib typically worn by advocates in court—was deemed inappropriate for parliamentary sessions.
Later that evening, Babu Owino released a video clip responding to the Speaker’s decision. He criticized Wetangula’s move as unnecessary and argued that he had earned the right to wear advocate robes, having studied law for over five years. According to Babu, the Speaker’s decision was both ironic and unfair.
“It’s laughable that I was ejected for wearing what I studied hard to earn. I spent four years pursuing my undergraduate degree in law, and another two years at the Kenya School of Law.
That’s six years of education and training. Yet I was kicked out for wearing my legally-earned attire,” Babu stated.
He went on to compare his formal training to other MPs who, in his view, put little thought into their dressing. “Over 300 MPs just walk into a shop and buy a tie within five minutes. But for me, it took six years of serious academic effort to earn this dress code.
Ironically, the Speaker himself was also dressed in a similar manner. So, who really should have been kicked out?” he questioned.
The outspoken MP further claimed that the move to eject him may have been politically motivated. However, he made it clear that he had forgiven Speaker Wetangula for what had happened.
“This might have been driven by political interests, but I want to let Speaker Wetangula know that I hold no grudge. I have forgiven him,” Babu added.
Babu Owino officially became an advocate in May this year during an admission ceremony led by Chief Justice Martha Koome, alongside other senior members of the Judiciary. A total of 610 new advocates were admitted to the bar in that event.
Since his admission, Babu has taken an active role in legal matters. He has been seen participating in several court cases, including the ongoing case involving Ndiangui Kinyagia, whose disappearance remains unresolved.
The incident has sparked public debate over the Parliament’s dress code and whether it should be reviewed to reflect professional qualifications and modern practices.
Babu’s reaction has also reignited discussions about political fairness and the treatment of vocal legislators in Parliament.
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