Githunguri Member of Parliament, Gathoni Wamuchomba, has strongly defended Embakasi East MP Babu Owino after he was accused by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni of conspiring with the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) to overthrow the Ugandan government.

During a speech at the launch of Raila Odinga’s bid for the African Union Commission chairmanship at State House in Nairobi, Museveni criticized Babu Owino, accusing him of supporting opposition figures in Uganda.

Wamuchomba responded sharply, questioning why a foreign president would use such an important international platform to criticize a young Kenyan parliamentarian. “Why would a foreign president use an international presidential platform to castigate a young Kenyan parliamentarian?” Wamuchomba asked.

She also expressed disappointment at the reaction of some leaders who laughed at Museveni’s remarks, which she found inappropriate. “I saw leaders giggle as if he was making a ‘good’ joke. This was uncalled for,” she said.

Museveni claimed in his speech that Babu Owino’s name frequently appears in intelligence reports concerning activities against Uganda’s ruling party, the National Resistance Movement (NRM), which he leads.

Babu Owino is a well-known supporter of Ugandan opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, who has been a prominent critic of Museveni’s government.