Babu Owino pleads not guilty to gun charges, thinks court should acquit him

Babu Owino, the member of parliament for Embakasi East, has pleaded not guilty to charges of misuse of a firearm. In his submissions to the court, Owino’s lawyer, Duncan Okatch, argued that the prosecution had failed to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Okatch pointed out that none of the witnesses had seen Owino behaving in a disorderly manner, and that the prosecution’s reliance on CCTV evidence was not enough to prove that he was intoxicated. He also argued that the victim, DJ Evolve, had testified that he and Owino were friends, and that there was no motive for Owino to shoot him.

Owino himself also addressed the court, saying that he had spent Sh58.6 million on Evolve’s medical expenses. He said that he had taken responsibility for Evolve as a leader, and that this was inconsistent with someone who had intended to harm him.

The magistrate, Bernard Ochoi, has reserved his ruling until a later date.