Kileleshwa Ward MCA Robert Alai has broken his silence following a violent altercation with Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, vowing to protect his family amid public scrutiny. In an interview with a local media house on Monday, January 5, 2026, Alai emphasized that his family members, including his wife and children, are not on social media and should not be targeted.
“These people, especially my children and wife, are not political players. They’re not in the, they don’t even have social media accounts. They’re not political players in this,” Alai said.
Alai explained that he has already presented complaints about online insults to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), but the issues remain unresolved. “I have talked with DCI Amin about these issues of online insults. I am fair game, but when it comes to family members…” he stated. He further added, “I am a fair game, you can target me if I’ve opened myself up to public scrutiny, and so you can bring your, all your, I’ll be able to handle it. But when it comes to family members…..”
What led to the clash between Alai and Babu Owino?
The incident occurred just two days after Babu Owino publicly accused Robert Alai of physically assaulting him at a restaurant along Lenana Road in Nairobi’s Kilimani area. In a statement released on Sunday, January 4, 2026, Owino said the incident happened on Saturday afternoon at around 3:40 p.m. while he was meeting a senior clergyman.
According to the MP, he had released his security detail for the Christmas holidays and drove himself to the venue. The meeting lasted about 20 minutes, after which he approached an adjacent table where Alai and others were seated. “As I was departing, I noticed a group of people known to me seated at an adjacent table. Out of courtesy, I approached the table and greeted those present, including the MCA for Kileleshwa Ward, Hon. Robert Alai,” Owino wrote.
Owino claims the encounter turned hostile when Alai accused him of orchestrating social media attacks against his wife. “Without provocation, he accused me of being behind alleged social media attacks on his wife. I calmly explained that I do not know his wife, that she has never wronged me in any way, and that I have no reason whatsoever to involve innocent family members in politics,” Owino stated.
Alai’s statements highlight the ongoing tensions between the two political figures, as both insist on protecting personal and family boundaries while navigating a public and politically charged confrontation. The matter has drawn widespread attention, raising questions about online harassment, accountability, and the boundaries of political disputes in Kenya.
By Lucky Anyanje