Embakasi East Member of Parliament (MP) Paul Ongili popularly known as Babu Owino has declared protests could remove President William Ruto from power, attributing the country’s major political milestones to public demonstrations.

Speaking on Sunday, February 15, during the Linda Mwananchi rally in Kitengela, the vocal lawmaker pushed back against the Kenya Kwanza administration’s opposition to demonstrations, highlighting Kenya’s new constitution, multipartism, and victory against colonialism as some of the fruits of protests.

Owino, posed a series of rhetorical questions to the crowd saying, "Kila siku wanatuambia yakwamba hawataki maandamano. Niwaulize vijana, ni nini ilitoa wazungu Kenya? Nini ilileta multipartism? Nini ilitupatia katiba mpya?".

He defended public protests as a key driver of political and social change in Kenya, saying attempts to discourage demonstrations ignore the country’s own history.

The lawmaker, attributed President Ruto's co-operation in the broad-based goverment with the late ODM leader Raila Odinga as a deal reached over public protests. Owino, also noted that National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, his energy counterpart Opiyo Wandayi, and Cooperatives and MSMEs CS Wycliffe Oparanya had all earned their positions in government as a result of the protests.

“Nini ilifanya Ruto atafute Raila? Nini ilipatia Mbadi kazi? Nini ilipatia Wandayi kazi? Nini ilipatia Oparanya kazi? Nini itatoa Ruto State House?” Babu Owino questioned.

Owino, said many Kenyans are facing serious hardships, yet leaders in power are quick to dismiss protests rather than listen to public concerns. He questioned why citizens are being told not to demonstrate when their basic needs remain unmet.

The ‘Linda Mwananchi’ rally in Kitengelea, was led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, Embakasi East Mp Babu Owino and Siaya Governor James Orengo among others.

The leaders told the gathering that the spirit of the late party leader Raila Odinga was with the group and not the rival Linda Ground currently meeting in Tononoka, Mombasa.

"We are asking President to demand his money back from that team in Mombasa," Orengo said as the crowd shouted, "One term."

The leaders vowed to rally behind Sifuna, who was fired as ODM SG before the Political Parties Tribunal reinstated him last Thursday. Saboti's Caleb Amisi was also among those who managed to address the gathering before police fired teargas to disperse the gathering.

Chaos as Police Lobby Teargas

It's not clear what prompted the police to throw the teargas to disperse thousands of supporters attending the Linda Wananchi rally. The incident happened as Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna introduced other leaders who had joined him.

When the first teargas was thrown, Sifuna was heard asking the crowd to remain calm, wondering who was disrupting the rally. It's then that more teargas was thrown, with crowds scampering for safety.

The rally ended abruptly as leaders drove off while the crowds ran in different directions.

Boda boda riders and residents who had turned up for the rally were seen scampering for safety as the situation quickly became unmanageable.

Videos seen indicated that within minutes of the melee, people began fleeing in different directions, while others struggled to move away from the choking fumes.

Sifuna was heard urging the crowds to stand firm even as most of the rally attendees scampered to safety. He would later thank Kitengela and urged his supporters to stay put.

"Thank You Kitengela. Despite all the harassment, intimidation and violence from this morning, you showed up. They first destroyed our dais and sound equipment in the morning, and the state goons have now teargassed a peaceful assembly and brought it to an abrupt end. We shall not relent," Sifuna said.