Drama as Babu Owino’s certificate goes missing
There was a moment of drama at the Embakasi East constituency tallying center on Thursday morning after the winner’s certificate for the MP elect went missing.
Angry supporters of former university of Nairobi student leader Paul Ongili, aka Babu Owino, alleged that there was a plot to deny the ODM politician the certificate.
” We are not going to accept anything less than a certificate. We don’t want to know where you are going to get it. I know there are plans to deny me my victory but I tell you I have been elected by the people of Embakasi East and you cannot select leaders for them, ” an agitated Babu Owino told the Returning Officer Mr Nicholas Burtuk.
The Returning Officer claimed that the certificate had been locked in an office and a logistic officer who had the key had been arrested Thursday morning over election related malpractice.
However, the Embakasi police station boss, who was present, denied the claims of arrest.
Babu claimed the Returning Officer had instructions to deny him the certificate.
‘I’M ELECTED’
“You are not doing me a favor. You cannot select leaders for people of Embakasi East. I’m elected. We are not leaving here, you are not leaving here until I get my cartifcate,” he said.
However, he urged his supporters to stay calm. After a phone call to the county elections manager Mele Eroo, the Returning Officer changed tune and claimed that the logistic officer had disappeared and could not be reached on phone.
However, after Babu Owino’s tough talk the certificate was found among documents with the deputy Returning Officer.
Babu was declared winner with 43,862 . His close opponent Jubilee’s Francis Mureithi Wambugu garnered 39,805. Mary Wangari of Maendeleo chap chap was third with 1424.
Babu demanded that the Returning Officer wear his official IEBC uniform before handing him the certificate.
