What began as an ordinary afternoon at a popular restaurant in Nairobi has turned into a public dispute that is now attracting national attention. An incident involving Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino and Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai has raised serious questions after CCTV footage emerged showing events that differ from the version first shared with the public.
The confrontation happened on January 3, 2026, at Cedars Restaurant in Kilimani. Shortly after the incident, Babu Owino gave a public account in which he said he was quietly having lunch when Robert Alai approached him in an aggressive manner. According to Owino, Alai accused him of being behind online attacks targeting Alai’s wife and family.
Owino claimed that he tried to calm the situation and avoid trouble. He further alleged that Alai reached toward what looked like a firearm, forcing him to remain alert and defend himself.
His statement presented him as a calm individual who was suddenly confronted and placed under threat.
However, CCTV footage that later surfaced has told a different story. The video shows Owino standing up from his table and walking toward Alai’s table. From the footage, it appears that Owino was the one who initiated the interaction, not Alai. The exchange quickly became heated, drawing the attention of other patrons and restaurant staff.
While the situation did not turn into a physical fight, it was clearly tense and confrontational.
This visual evidence has caused many Kenyans to question the accuracy of Owino’s earlier claims. Critics argue that the footage directly contradicts his account of being approached and threatened. Instead, the images suggest that he took the first step toward confrontation.
As a result, public debate has shifted from what happened during the argument to whether Owino deliberately misrepresented the events to protect his image.
The incident has also brought back memories of past controversies involving the MP. In 2020, Owino was involved in the shooting of DJ Evolve at a Nairobi nightclub.
That case, which is still before the courts, also relied heavily on CCTV footage to piece together what happened. For many observers, the Cedars Restaurant incident appears to follow a familiar pattern where Owino’s explanations are challenged by recorded evidence.
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