University of Nairobi student leader Babu Owino arrested

University of Nairobi student leader Babu Owino arrested

University of Nairobi student leader Babu Owino was Wednesday evening arrested for allegedly assaulting his rival in last month’s elections Mike Jacobs.

According to reports, Owino was arrested and taken to Kilimani Police Station where he spent the night ahead of his arraignment at the Kibera Law Courts on Thursday.

Jacobs is among 33 University of Nairobi students who were expelled by the school’s management for allegedly participating in riots that led to the destruction of school property and leaving several students injured.

The protests resulted from contested elections which were won by Babu Owino, granting him his fourth term as the University’s student leader.

Meanwhile, University’s Senate has proposed drastic measures aimed at reforming the student’s union.

This comes after the Senate recommended the appointment of a committee to review the SONU constitution following a meeting held on April 27th, 2016.

In a statement to newsrooms, the Senate said the review is aimed at enhancing responsibility and accountability in SONU.

Among the proposed reviews include putting in place a term limit for executive positions to open up the opportunity to many other students, reduce the stakes involved or benefits to office bearers so as to reduce tension between the winning and losing candidates.

The source of finances for SONU is also set to be reviewed with the campaign budgets also set to be clipped to reasonable levels.

Babu Owino is not new to controversy having been on the receiving end after a clip emerged of him dishing out cash to students ahead of the students’ elections last month.

In an interview with Citizen TV, Babu refuted the claims saying he was just “helping out” his colleagues.

The SONU chair has also moved to dispel claims that he acquired his wealth through illegal dealings saying he owns several legally registered companies in the country and runs various other businesses.

“I am not very wealthy and the wealth I have comes from God. I own a number of companies including a supplies company, a property and a construction company. I am also a farmer,” he stated.

The student leader further put NACADA chair John Mututho to task over his allegations that he deals in drugs challenging him to substantiate his claims in court.

On his long tenure as student leader, Babu Owino has claimed that he will retire from university politics at the end of his current term and shift his focus to the national politics with keen interest on clinching the Embakasi East parliamentary seat.

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