Babu Owino Charged with Attempted Murder, to Remanded for 7 Days

Embakasi East MP Paul Ongili, alias Babu Owino, was on Monday arraigned in court after spending the weekend in police custody.

Appearing before Milimani Law Courts Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi, Babu was charged with attempted murder and disorderly behavior while carrying a firearm. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Magistrate Andayi directed that the accused person is remanded in custody for seven days pending a ruling on his bail application. Babu will be held in prison and not a police station as requested by the defense team led by lawyer Cliff Ombeta.

Ombeta had sought to have Babu freed on bail arguing that he took the victim to the hospital and had paid his medical bill. He also noted that Babu is a family man and has cooperated with investigators. 

“The accused person is the one that took the victim to the hospital. He has gone ahead and paid KSh600,000 from his pocket to Nairobi Hospital for his treatment. He is a family man, he cooperated with police in every step and is a Member of Parliament who has to go back to work,” Ombeta told the court.

But magistrate Andayi declined the defense’s plea for bail ruling, noting: “Given the gravity of the offense, the views of the victims are important before I give my ruling. It should be brought before me within the next seven days.”

Babu shot and wounded Felix Orinda, alias DJ Evolve, at B-Club in Kilimani, Nairobi on Friday morning. He was arrested and booked at Kilimani Police Station before later being transferred to Gigiri Police Station.

The victim is currently admitted at Nairobi Hospital where he underwent two surgeries to remove a bullet lodged in his neck and a blood clot.