Embakasi East MP Babu Owino says President William Ruto offered him the position of Education Cabinet Secretary during the height of the 2024 Gen Z protests.
Owino claims he declined the offer because joining the government would have conflicted with his political beliefs.
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Babu Owino says he rejected Cabinet offer
Speaking in an interview on Thee Alfa House YouTube channel, the MP said the alleged proposal came during the period of intense anti-government demonstrations in 2024.
The protests were followed by President Ruto’s decision to dismiss most of his Cabinet on July 11, 2024, before appointing a new team.
Owino said he chose not to accept the Education docket because he did not support the political arrangement that later became known as the broad-based government.
He maintained that his political decisions would continue to be guided by ideology rather than government appointments.
Owino defends independent political path
The lawmaker also defended his decision to establish his own political party.
Owino said having a separate political vehicle would give young leaders more opportunities to contest positions ranging from county assembly seats to Parliament and governorships.
He argued that political parties can still form coalitions while maintaining their individual identities.
Owino cited previous alliances such as NARC, Jubilee, NASA and Azimio la Umoja as examples of parties working together during national elections.
The MP currently leads The Mwananchi Party.
Previous remarks on Education CS role
Owino has previously spoken about the possibility of serving as Education Cabinet Secretary.
In February 2025, he said he would consider joining Ruto’s Cabinet if the government committed to providing free education from primary school through university.
His latest remarks, however, go further by claiming that an Education CS position had already been offered to him during the 2024 protests.
There was no independently verified response from President Ruto or State House to that specific claim in the sources reviewed.
