What Babu Owino’s Admission to the Bar Now Means

Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has officially transitioned from the parliamentary chamber to the courtroom, joining 608 other lawyers in being admitted to the bar on Friday. For the outspoken legislator, this achievement is more than a personal milestone—it’s a strategic step in his broader mission to champion the rights of marginalized Kenyans.

Tracing his journey from the slums of Nyalenda in Kisumu, Owino highlighted how his encounters with police brutality and systemic injustice shaped his determination to fight for change. Growing up in a community where constitutional rights were often disregarded, he recalls witnessing firsthand the harsh realities faced by ordinary citizens.

“My mother was arrested numerous times for selling chang’aa, yet instead of being taken to court, she was beaten and forced to pay bribes from her meagre earnings,” Owino recounted. These formative experiences, he said, ignited a lifelong hunger for justice and equality.

While Owino’s fiery speeches and confrontational approach in Parliament have made him a controversial figure, his legal qualification signals an evolution in his advocacy. He framed his admission to the bar not as an end, but as a beginning—a means to amplify his efforts to confront systemic failures in governance and defend the underprivileged.

“This is not about personal pride; it’s about equipping myself with the tools to serve the people better,” he declared. “With the law as my new weapon, I will fight harder for justice, equity, and the rights of the common mwananchi.”

Owino’s statement also carried a direct warning to the government, promising intensified scrutiny and legal challenges on issues such as the high cost of living, unemployment, and accountability. “Now armed with both legislative experience and legal authority, the government should expect more robust and unrelenting advocacy,” he said.

Concluding with a bold and symbolic pledge, Owino invoked divine guidance as he prepared for this new chapter in his career: “The revolution continues—now with a gown and a gavel. So, help me, God.”

With this new credential, Babu Owino is poised to expand his influence, turning the courtroom into another arena for his fight against inequality and injustice.