Babu Owino, the Embakasi East Member of Parliament accused of shooting a DJ in a Nairobi night club, has been released on bail pending the hearing of his case. Babu was charged with the attempted murder of Felix Orinda, commonly known as DJ Evolve, at B-club, in the Kilimani suburb, on January 17. He also faces the charge of being drunk and disorderly while carrying a firearm.
On Monday morning, the Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi ordered that the legislator deposit Kes 10 million ($ 100,000) bail to secure his release from custody. He was also ordered to deposit two sureties of a similar amount, and his passport. He was instructed not to drink or have any intoxicant in any public establishment for the duration of the case.
Babu will deposit the Kes 10 million bail in four equal instalments of Kes 2.5 million over the course of the next three months: The first instalment will secure his conditional release and be used to settle DJ Evolve’s hospital bill.
The family of the victim, as well as the prosecution, had previously opposed his release on bail. He was consequently detained at the Industrial Area Remand Prison for seven days, this in addition to the weekend he had spent behind bars following his arrest on a Friday.
The MP was represented by lawyers Danstan Omari, Cliff Ombeta and five others. He pleaded not guilty to all the charges.