Fridah Ongili, the wife of Embakasi East Member of Parliament Paul Ongili alias Babu Owino broke the silence on the whereabouts of the politician.
On Wednesday, July 19, Fridah revealed that officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) arrested the lawmaker few minutes after landing at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
“Yesterday (Tuesday, July 18,) he called me at around 11:00 p.m. He told ehe was at JKIA and was arrested by the DCI,” she said.
“He said he will me again, but we have not talked ever since because his phone went off,” she added.
Further, Fridah. Stated that since Wednesday morning she has been searching for the MP in different police stations.
“I started at the DCI headquarters where police directed me to go to the airport. I have visited Muthaiga, Kilimani Kileleshwa and Embakasi police stations,” she said.
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Babu Owino in Kirinyaga
She said that after running around in search of Babu Owino, she got information that he was at Wanguru Police Station in Mwea, Kirinyaga County.
According to Fridah, she was certain that her husband was at the station.
“I explained to them that all I wanted was to give my husband food and medicine because he was not feeling well on Monday.”
“They denied me access to him and literally carried me out of the gate,” she said.
Additionally, she stated that there was heavy police presence at the station during that time.
“I was able to ascertain that my husband is indeed in Wanguru Police Station in Mwea,” she narrated.
Fridah also said they already have information that police are likely to transfer the vocal legislator to another police station.
She pleaded with the Azimio leadership, especially former prime minister Raila Odinga to intervene and ask the state to release her husband.
In her plea, Fridah affirmed that the MP did nothing to warrant an arrest adding that he was just fighting for the rights of Kenyans.
“To the government, who is holding him illegally, all I wanted was to give my husband food and to ensure that he is safe,” she said.
Also, she asked Kenyans and like-minded people to help her confirm the safety of the MP.
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Azimio on Babu Owino Arrest
In a press statement on Wednesday, July 19, Azimio confirmed that the police arrested Babu Owino and detained him in incommunicado.
The coalition revealed that it did not know the whereabouts of the Embakasi East Member of Parliament.
Azimio noted that the illegal arrests and abductions are desperate attempts by the government to paralyze Azimio and its top leaders.
Additionally, they claimed that the move was a ploy to sabotage the exercise of its constitutional right to peaceful demonstrations.
“We demand for the immediate release of those detained noting that their detention is not only malicious but also unlawful.
If it were not so, they would have arraigned him the court and charged him immediately,” read part of the statement.
