Babu Owino freed after DPP withdraws charges against him

The MP has been freed of charges of conspiracy to commit chaos or subversive activities.

In Summary
  • Babu was freed alongside self-styled ghetto president Calvin Gaucho with five others. 
  • Milimani chief magistrate Lucas Onyina withdrew the case after the DPP through its prosecution counsel James Gachoka told the court that they intended to have the case withdrawn.
Tom Odongo Ongudi, Calvin Okoth Otieno and Embakasi East Mp Babu Owino and four others before Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina at Milimani Law Courts on June 5, 2024
Tom Odongo Ongudi, Calvin Okoth Otieno and Embakasi East Mp Babu Owino and four others before Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina at Milimani Law Courts on June 5, 2024
Image: DOUGLAS OKIDDY

Embakasi East MP Babu Owino alias Paul Ongili has been freed of charges of conspiracy to commit chaos or subversive activities.

Babu was freed alongside self-styled ghetto president Calvin Gaucho with five others. 

Milimani chief magistrate Lucas Onyina withdrew the case after the DPP through its prosecution counsel James Gachoka told the court that they intended to have the case withdrawn.

"The DPP having gone through the charges and a decision by a High Court judge who nullified section 77(1) of the Constitution under which the accused persons were charged, found that it was with as unconstitutional," Gachoka told the court.

Gachoka told Chief Magistrate Onyina that the DPP could not continue with the trial of the seven since it was unlawful. 

Defence lawyers led by Danstan Omari and Dancun Okatch told the court that the charges were political.

"The DPP pressed charges against the accused persons knowing it was political, we are happy that they have applied to withdraw the charges," Okatch said. 

The magistrate allowed the application by the ODPP to withdraw the case saying the section under which they were charged was declared unconstitutional by a High Court in Nakuru.

"Having taken note by both the prosecution and the defence lawyers, I, therefore, allow the termination of the card under section 87A in lieu of the fact that the section under which the seven were charged is unconstitutional by a higher jurisdiction," the magistrate ruled.

The matter was marked as closed.

Babu and the six others were in 2023 charged with conspiracy to commit subversive activities by planning and participating in demonstrations.

Babu and Gaucho were charged alongside Tom Ondongo Ong'udi, Michael Otieno Omondi, Pascal Ouma, Kevin Wambo and Willys Owino Baraka. 

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