DJ Evolve shooting: Attempted murder charge against MP Babu Owino withdrawn

The attempted murder charge against Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino in the shooting of Felix Orinda, alias DJ Evolve, has been withdrawn.

This follows an application to that effect filed by the complainant, DJ Evolve, himself.

Magistrate Bernard Ochoi, in his ruling, noted that the accused, Mr. Owino, and the complainant, DJ Evolve, were friends before the incident and have maintained the same even afterwards.

The magistrate also noted that the MP is currently undertaking certain obligations in relation to the welfare of the complainant.

"Taking all the above into account I have come to the conclusion that this is a matter where the court should encourage reconciliation as envisaged in the Constitution and therefore I will allow the withdrawal against the accused in count one...the accused is acquitted,” ruled Magistrate Ochoi.

The vocal legislator will however still be charged with behaving disorderly while carrying a firearm.

DJ Evolve had in October last year gone to court seeking for the attempted murder case against Mr. Owino to be withdrawn.

He told the court then, through his lawyer Kenneth Mumbo, that after intense deliberations with his family, they had agreed that he concentrates on his situation rather than the pending case.

DJ Evolve said the case had affected his healing process due to divided attention.

However, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) said that they needed more time to assess DJ Evolve’s mental state before withdrawing the charges.

In March this year, the application by DJ Evolve was dismissed by Milimani Court Trial Magistrate Bernard Ochoi.

Magistrate Ochoi said that the unconditional withdrawal of the case was not appropriate, further telling the legislator to come out openly and tell the court what he had offered the DJ’s family.

The Magistrate stated that the court had also not been told whether compensation had been made, despite the serious injuries suffered by the DJ.

Magistrate Ochoi, however, noted that the involved parties were at liberty to engage.