ODM politician Robert Alai has vowed to stand up for unemployed young men and women who are being branded goons amid the political storm surrounding the attack on Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi.
The Kileleshwa MCA made the remarks on his Facebook page as tensions within the opposition reached a new peak on Saturday.
Alai argued that calling jobless youth goons without evidence is unfair and does nothing to address the real problem of unemployment in the country. He insisted that if leaders genuinely want young people out of crime, the answer is to provide them with a meaningful way of earning a living.
He took a direct swipe at Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, who has been loudly naming alleged perpetrators behind the Osotsi attack and accusing Interior PS Raymond Omollo of financing political violence.
Alai reminded the public that Owino was convicted for shooting and injuring popular DJ Evolve, leaving the musician wheelchair-bound, and suggested he was the last person who should be labelling others as thugs.
Alai also revealed that he was personally blocked from visiting Osotsi in hospital by members of the Linda Mwananchi team, which drew further criticism of how the movement operates internally.
The complaint added another layer of tension to what was already a fractured political environment.
Osotsi had earlier addressed the media after his discharge from Karen Hospital on Saturday, confirming that the Linda Mwananchi team is under active government surveillance.
He and his allies called for the resignation of PS Omollo, accusing the Interior Ministry of being turned into a hub for political thuggery.
Babu Owino had named 17 individuals he claims were involved in the Osotsi attack and pointed the finger squarely at Omollo for organising and financing the assault.
Police have made some arrests, but trust in the investigation remains low among opposition figures who want full accountability.
Alai's broader argument taps into a raw national debate about youth unemployment and political exploitation.
He described the situation as a “goon economy” built on systemic failure, where politicians use young people for rallies and campaigns, then discard and demonise them when things go wrong.
He insisted that genuine suspects should be arrested with proper evidence rather than entire groups of struggling youth being painted with the same brush across the country.
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Politics