Court remands Babu Owino pending pre-bail report
Embakasi East MP Paul Ongili alias Babu Owino will spend seven days in remand after he was charged with attempted murder.
Owino who appeared before Milimani Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi will remain in remand awaiting a pre-bail report detailing the views of the victim who he allegedly shot.
“The views of the victim have not been mentioned in the submission yet they are crucial in the bail application process,” ruled Andayi.
The MP denied attempting to murder Felix Orinda, popularly known as DJ Evolve, by shooting him on the neck at B Club in Kilimani, Nairobi.
Owino was also charged with behaving disorderly while carrying a firearm. He is accused of firing one round of ammunition with intent to shoot Orinda.
Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Jacob Ondari opposed his release on bail saying the matter was still under investigation and more charges were likely to be preferred against the first time MP.
“The right to bail is not absolute and may be denied by the court if compelling reasons are provided,” he told the court.
Ondari argued that Owino has been charged with attempted murder, which carries a penalty of life imprisonment if found guilty.
Interfere with witnesses
He noted that Babu was an influential Member of Parliament and there is likelihood of him interfering with witnesses who are well known to him if released on bail.
The court was shown medical documents from Nairobi Hospital, which indicated that the victim was still in critical condition.
“We believe that there is a likelihood that the accused will interfere with witnesses in the case bearing in mind charges facing him,” Ondari argued.
However the MP’s lawyers led by Cliff Ombeta opposed the DPP’s application, arguing that there were no compelling reasons to deny Owino bail.
“The application is an assumption, an imagination and it’s not anything better than that...We are being told the accused is an influential person but the court has not been told how his status affects the case today.
They are assuming because he is a politician he will interfere,” argued Ombeta.
Ombeta also denied that Babu contacted the victim’s father saying he was in custody and therefore could not have done so.
