Architect and academic Prof. Alfred Omenya has sparked online debate after sharply criticizing Nairobi MCA Robert Alai’s intention to move to court to challenge Babu Owino’s popular online teaching initiative.
Through a post shared on social media, Prof. Omenya drew a historical comparison, saying that the last time individuals attempted to stop a teacher from teaching through legal means was a long time ago, when the philosopher Socrates was put on trial in ancient Athens.
“I can confirm that the last time fools tried to stop a teacher from teaching, through a court process, was in 399 BC. The teacher was the famous philosopher Socrates. Robert Alai is trying to repeat that feat 2,424 years later. It takes millennia to produce this kind of stupidity,” Prof. Omenya wrote in his Twitter account.
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Alai, the Kileleshwa MCA, had earlier indicated plans to file a court petition challenging Babu Owino’s online lessons, arguing that the Embakasi East MP’s digital classes contravene certain educational or broadcasting guidelines.
Babu’s online tutorials, which have attracted large viewership among KCSE candidates, were initially launched to support learners from underprivileged backgrounds who struggle to access quality revision resources.
Prof. Omenya’s comments have since drawn mixed reactions online, with supporters praising his defense of accessible education, while others urged restraint in the tone of public discourse between leaders.
The exchange highlights a growing debate over the role of politicians in educational initiatives and the boundaries between innovation, regulation, and personal rivalry in Kenya’s digital learning space.
By our reporter
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