Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino is once again at the center of controversy after it emerged that he allegedly orchestrated a fake WhatsApp group using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in a bid to salvage a botched propaganda campaign targeting Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja.
According to sources close to the legislator’s inner circle, a covert WhatsApp group initially formed by Babu’s team to malign Governor Sakaja was exposed after its contents leaked to the public. The leak reportedly left the MP’s camp embarrassed and forced a hasty retreat. In a damage control attempt, Babu is said to have used AI tools to fabricate a second group, making it appear as though it was created by Governor Sakaja’s allies.
The MP, who is believed to be eyeing the Nairobi gubernatorial seat in the 2027 elections, is no stranger to political theatrics and propaganda tactics aimed at gaining public sympathy or discrediting rivals.
In the latest digital deception, the fake group chat implicated Governor Sakaja in the alleged hiring of goons who infiltrated recent protests in Nairobi’s Central Business District. The demonstrations, which took place on Thursday, saw thousands of youths pour into the streets demanding justice for the late social media influencer Albert Ojwang.
Within the fabricated messages, Babu’s team attempted to suggest that the Nairobi Governor had funded the chaos, a claim insiders have dismissed as baseless and insensitive. Notably, critical infrastructure installed by the county government was vandalized during the protests, making it highly unlikely that Sakaja — whose administration invested in the very infrastructure — would orchestrate its destruction.
The exposed plot now adds to a growing list of political gimmicks associated with Babu Owino, a figure widely known for his use of propaganda and emotional rhetoric to sway public opinion.
