Babu Owino’s supporter set free by Nairobi court for admitting he is ‘stupid’

A 23-year-old man, who, on Monday, January 27, disrupted Babu Owino’s pre-bail hearing with an impassioned outburst, has been freed by Milimani Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi.

Billy Graham shouted down Deputy DPP Jacob Ondari at the Milimani Law Courts, asking for “objectivity” when Ondari was giving reasons why he [Deputy DPP] was opposed to Babu Owino being released on bail in the case in which he is accused of attempting to murder DJ Evolve.

“Be objective, bwana! Be objective,” Graham shouted as Ondari was addressing the court.

A startled Ondari protested the interruption, saying: “Your honour, I am not sure if we have hooligans in court.”

Two security officials swept into action, ejecting the young man from the courtroom.

Clad in a black shirt and matching leather jacket, the young man momentarily resisted arrest, but gave in.

The man – who was later identified as Graham Mukenye Odinga, a Kenya Institute of Management student – was taken to Capitol Hill Police Station.

And, on Tuesday, Graham, a Third-Year student pursuing Statistics, was brought back to court so that he could be charged with disturbing the peace.

However, before he could face the charge, Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi asked him why he shouted down the Deputy DPP.

“I did not mean to disrespect the Deputy DPP. I acted out of ignorance, stupidity and over-excitement. I regret my action,” said Graham.

Andayi, upon listening to Graham’s statement of remorse, said: “You have very serious names, especially the identity Graham. Your conduct should mirror your name; you should behave like [Late scientist Alexander] Graham,” said the magistrate.

“The person who made you shout in an attempt to protect him, has distanced himself from you, so have his lawyers. You have now been left alone, in a court of law, to defend yourself. [However], I understand it is not easy for someone to refer to himself or herself as stupid, when he knows too well that he or she is learned,” said Andayi before releasing the suspect unconditionally.

The magistrate said had Graham been charged and found guilty of disturbing the peace, he could have served a jail term of up to three years.

In an interview with K24 Digital on Monday, Graham said the Deputy DPP’s submissions on why Babu Owino shouldn’t be released on bail “angered me”.

Babu Owino, the current Embakasi East MP, was, on Monday evening, released on a cash bail of Ksh10 million in his case over the shooting of a DJ.

In the ruling, the court said the money will be used to settle the hospital bill of victim, DJ Evolve, whose real name is Felix Odhiambo Orinda.

The amount will be paid to the court in four instalments and will be used to clear all the bills the DJ will incur in the best medical facilities until he recovers fully.

The facilities will make claims through the court.