Embakasi East Member of Parliament (MP) Paul Ongili alias Babu Owino can heave with relief after charges in a criminal case he was facing were dropped.
Babu and six other co-accused had their criminal case withdrawn on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, by a Nairobi court.
The withdrawal came after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) applied to have the matter withdrawn.
“I have considered the submissions, the application made by the prosecution is meditated and therefore the case is terminated,” said Magistrate Onyina.
Following the court order, Babu and the six others, who were in 2023 charged with conspiracy to commit subversive activities are now free.
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The Embakasi East lawmaker had been charged after he was arrested amid the nationwide anti-government protests in 2023 sanctioned by the Azimio la Umoja coalition.
Babu Owino Charged
Back in July 2023, the parliamentarian was arraigned at the Milimani Law Courts two days after his arrest.
Babu Owino was presented in court in dramatic fashion alongside self-declared Bunge la Mwananchi President Calvin Okoth Otieno alias Gaucho and five others.
The prosecution back then charged the six suspects with conspiring to commit subversive activities over their alleged role in planning the Azimio la Umoja-led anti-government “maandamano” protests.
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However, they went on to deny the charges.
The five other suspects were identified as Michael Otieno, Tom Odondo, Willis Owino, Pascal Ouma, and Kevin Wambo.
According to the prosecution, the suspects on dates between July 7 and 23, 2023 committed the offence with others who were not in court within Nairobi County.
Released on Bail
The prosecution opposed the suspects’ release on bail, saying they were a threat to national security with the magistrate however delivering the ruling on the suspects’ bail application where they were granted.
Meanwhile, the presiding magistrate Lukas Onyina had also directed police to escort Babu Owino who was said to be sick to the hospital for medication.
“The first accused will be escorted to the hospital for medical attention. The rest of the accused persons will be remanded at Kileleshwa Police Station until tomorrow,” Onyina ruled back then.
Babu Owino had been arrested at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on and taken to Wang’uru Police Station in Mwea, Kirinyaga County, where he spent the last two nights.
He was later driven to Nairobi in dramatic fashion where he was charged.
The arrests came after opposition leader Raila Odinga led anti-government demonstrations to protest electoral injustices and the high cost of living, causing economic shutdown.
During the same period, Nairobi was the most hit, with businesses remaining closed.
Odinga later struck a deal with President William Ruto, ending the demos, although the damage was already irreparable.
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