MP Babu Owino gives ultimatum after Uhuru-Raila trip to China failed to secure 368 Billion SGR loan

Babu Owino issues ultimatum after Raila-Uhuru visit to China failed to secure Sh368 Billion SGR loan

Charles Ouma

April 27, 2019 1:49 PM

Ujinga hatutakubali na ufala ya peni mbili-Babu Owino

File image of Embakasi East MP Babu Owino addressing the press flanked by other leaders

Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino has issued an ultimatum after a joint trip to China by President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga failed to secure Sh368 Billion needed to extend the Standard Gauge Railway to Kisumu.

Taking to Twitter, the vocal lawmaker warned that the handshake deal would amount to nothing should it fail to deliver anything substantial by the end of this year.

His tweet read in part that “I’m smelling a rat.The by product of this Handshake must be a referendum to amend the constitution,or we divorce if the marriage can’t manufacture a baby.”

Babu Owino issues ultimatum after Raila-Uhuru visit to China failed to secure Sh368 Billion SGR loan Pulse Live Kenya

The fiery lawmaker warned that any stupid games will not be tolerated,adding that by the end of the year, the way forward should be given.

“Everything MUST be clear by the end of this year.Ujinga hatutakubali na ufala ya peni mbili.” Owino stated.

His comments come barely a day after President Kenyatta failed to secure the much-hyped Sh 368 Billion needed to extend the SGR from Naivasha to Kisumu with reports emerging that China presented difficult conditions.

The Kenyan delegation insisted that half of the 368 Billion be given as a grant and the other half as a loan with more relaxed terms, something that China was opposed to.

Irked by the media reports and in a bid to clear the air on what transpired, Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Monica Juma took to Twitter to explain the development that saw President Uhuru Kenyatta fail to seal the widely anticipated deal.

President Uhuru Kenyatta during talks with China's President Xi Jinping (PSCU) Pulse Live Kenya

"Strange headlines out of Nairobi today! The relationship between Kenya and China is broader than the SGR. In fact, the SGR extension beyond Naivasha was never a priority agenda for the current mission to Beijing." Stated the CS.

"Our focus was on growing market access, development of our industrial and special economic zones, and partnership with the private sectors for investment. Significantly, the first PPP deal was struck yesterday. So where is this headline coming from?" wondered the CS.

Charles Ouma