The prominent youth leader and activist Calvince Okoth, popularly known as Gaucho, has hit back at Embakasi East MP Babu Owino following threats regarding his future in public service.
The exchange ignited after Owino suggested he would sack Gaucho from his current role if he successfully clinches the Nairobi gubernatorial seat. Gaucho dismissed these remarks as misguided, standing firm on his track record and his right to serve the city.
Gaucho credited Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja for his appointment to the Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital board, describing the role as a lifeline for the city’s youth. He framed the appointment as a strategic move to provide meaningful employment to young people who might otherwise fall into a life of crime.
“Such opportunities are meant to empower young people and help them move away from goonism and other criminal activities,” Gaucho said.
The activist also took aim at Owino’s focus on his academic qualifications, arguing that leadership requires more than just a collection of degrees. He clarified that his position on the hospital board centers on governance and representing the community’s interests rather than performing specialized medical tasks.
Turning the spotlight back on the legislator, Gaucho challenged Owino to examine his own track record regarding youth empowerment. He questioned how many young people within the Embakasi East constituency have actually secured jobs through the MP’s efforts to combat unemployment and crime. In a video circulating on social media, the activist urged Owino to develop a deeper empathy for the hardships facing Nairobi’s youth before passing judgment.
“Babu, I have accepted that you will sack me, but let me ask you, have you ever done background checks of those youth who engage in criminal activities? If you were lucky to study, don’t chest-thump or look down upon others,” he said.
The youth leader stood by his position on the hospital board, framing it as a testament to Governor Sakaja’s commitment to an inclusive government. He argued that the current administration purposefully opens doors for individuals from all walks of life, ensuring that diverse voices have a seat at the table regardless of their background.
The political friction stems from comments made by Babu Owino during an NTV interview on Monday, May 4, 2026. The Embakasi East legislator signaled a major overhaul of Nairobi County’s leadership structures if he wins the governorship, specifically targeting what he describes as incompetence within public service appointments. While Owino claimed he does not intend to initiate mass layoffs, he explicitly singled out Gaucho as someone whose tenure would end under his administration.
The MP used a sharp academic contrast to justify his stance, questioning the logic of placing a youth activist in a position of authority over medical professionals.
“I am not saying people will lose their jobs, but the likes of Gaucho will automatically lose their jobs because how do you expect a doctor who sat in class for seven years to be directed by Gaucho, who thinks in installments?” Owino said.
Owino continued his critique by mocking Gaucho’s capacity to handle the complexities of hospital governance alongside highly trained specialists.
“We cannot do that, because even him (Gaucho) will have a muscle pull of the brain when he is seated with doctors there,” he added.
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