[Embakasi East MP Babu Owino in a past event. He became the first student leader to win parliamentary seat fresh from campus politics. Photo/Nation]
Liked and hated in equal measure, Embakasi East MP Paul Ongili alias Babu Owino may have written history that will go down for years,
Owino, a long serving student leader of the University of Nairobi, is currently facing charges on alleged incitement and abusing the Head of State.
With student politics playing a significant role in 80s and 90s, Owino became the first student leader to ever been elected to National assembly while serving fellow students at the university.
Records show that a number of legislators who made in to parliament at one point served in student leadership but were elected after years of active national politics.
Senator James Orengo, late fiery Kitutu Masaba MP George Anyona, Lawrence Sifuna, Koigi Wamwere, Kabando wa Kabando, Cecil Mbarire among others were elected to parliament after few years out of campus.
To spice his impeccable record in a month, Owino also became the first MP to swear under the new constitution allegiance to opposition leader Raila Odinga, even though it’s contrary to existing laws.
In 2008, former Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba became the first MP to swear allegiance to a loser of a presidential election.