Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has admitted that in a "working state," he would be behind bars following the 2020 shooting of Felix Orinda, popularly known as DJ Evolve.
Speaking on NTV Kenya’s morning segment, Fixing the Nation, the legislator addressed the public outcry regarding his freedom of movement. He acknowledged that while many believe he belongs in prison, he has opted for a different path of accountability.
A Choice of Justice
Owino distinguished between two types of legal outcomes. He described "retributive justice" as a system focused solely on punishment. Instead, he argued for "restorative justice," which seeks to return a victim to their original state.
"In a working state, Babu should be in jail. I agree. I should be in jail. But there are different types of justice,” he remorsefully said.
He compared the situation to the era of King Solomon. He suggested that "cutting the baby in two" would have resulted in losing the life involved.
By remaining free, he claims he has been able to facilitate the DJ’s recovery.
The Sh70 Million Bill
The MP provided a detailed breakdown of the massive financial commitment he has undertaken. He revealed that he has spent nearly Sh70 million on DJ Evolve’s medical care to date.
To fund these costs, Owino stated he has taken out loans from banks and SACCOs. His monthly expenditure for the DJ’s ongoing care remains high.
The Financial Breakdown:
- Total Spent: Approximately Sh70 million.
- Monthly Medical Bill: Close to Sh500,000.
- Nairobi Hospital Debt: Sh28 million (still being paid off).
A ‘Saul to Paul’ Moment
Owino described the incident as a life-altering turning point. He referred to it as a "soul pole" (Saul to Paul) moment that forced him to confront his personal demons.
The MP claimed he was previously a heavy drinker who used "hard substance drugs." He stated he has been completely sober since the 2020 incident.
"I used to drink. I used to take hard substance drugs. I stopped all this from 2020 to date. I’ve never touched a glass of alcohol."
The Path to Forgiveness
According to Owino, the shooting was not the result of a fight. He claimed Felix Orinda asked to see his firearm, and it discharged as he was "removing it to show" him.
He maintained that the DJ forgave him "from day one" because there was no prior bile or challenge between them. He denied that the forgiveness was bought with money, insisting that Orinda is simply a very good person.
The incident occurred in January 2020 at B-Club in Nairobi’s Kilimani area. CCTV footage from the night showed the MP shooting the DJ in the neck at close range.
DJ Evolve was left paralysed and underwent multiple surgeries. In 2021, a court allowed the withdrawal of attempted murder charges against Owino after the DJ filed an application to have the matter settled out of court, citing his own healing process.
Owino noted that while the DJ can now eat and talk normally, he is still undergoing physiotherapy to regain the ability to walk.
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