Father of DJ ‘shot by Babu Owino’ thanks the suspect for ‘taking my son to Nairobi Hospital’

John Orinda, the father of Felix Orinda, the DJ who was allegedly shot and injured by Babu Owino on January 17, says the MP has thus far spent Ksh800, 000 on his son’s treatment.

Speaking exclusively to K24 Digital at the Nairobi Hospital on Thursday, John Orinda said his son’s health condition remains “critical”, but he is optimistic that it will improve.

“He (Felix) has been having difficulty in breathing for the last four days. Currently, he is unable to speak,” John Orinda said.

“His spinal cord was badly affected. On Tuesday, January 28, he was scheduled for a surgical operation, but the doctors said he wasn’t in good shape to undergo the exercise. The medical procedure was, as a result, pushed back to February 4,” added John Orinda.

In a statement that is likely to spark mixed reactions, Orinda said he was thankful to Babu Owino -- the man said to have shot his son -- for taking Felix to Nairobi Hospital.

Ksh800, 000 medical bill

“I thank Babu Owino for taking my son to Nairobi Hospital. I think he would have died had he taken him to a medical facility that has limited equipment. So far, the MP has paid Ksh800, 000 for Felix’s treatment,” said Orinda, a native of Kobala Location in Kendu Bay, Homa Bay County.

Felix still has a blood clot in his neck, sources at the Nairobi Hospital revealed.

The key suspect in Felix Orinda’s shooting, Babu Owino, was last Monday released on Ksh10 million cash bail after spending seven days in remand.

However, on Thursday, January 30, the Embakasi East MP moved to court seeking to have, among others, the amount of money slapped on him as cash bail lowered, saying he had already committed to footing Felix Orinda’s medical bill, and, therefore, fulfilling the bail terms, according to him, was akin to being double-billed.

Owino, through his lawyer, Dancan Okatch, further said that some of the conditions set by Milimani Chief Magistrate, Francis Andayi, as part of the bail fulfillment were “not favourable”, and were “making Owino appear guilty until proven innocent, which was contrary to the doctrine of presumption of innocence until a suspect is proven guilty”.

Owino’s application was filed at the High Court in Nairobi on Thursday, January 30.

In the application, the lawmaker also sought to have the Judges and Magistrates Association of Kenya admitted as interested parties, saying the issues he raised, “affect the conduct and transparency of the Judiciary”.

Owino, in his legal quest, further sought to have the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji barred from speaking publicly, including on social media, about details of the MP’s attempted murder case.

Bail terms

On Monday, January 27, Babu Owino was prohibited from taking alcoholic drinks in public establishments following his release from police custody.

The court released Owino on Ksh10 million cash bail payable in three months’ time.

Nairobi Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi said that the cash bail will cater for the treatment of his victim, DJ Evolve, at the Nairobi Hospital where he is admitted in the Intensive Care Unit.

Owino was directed to post Ksh2.5 million by end of Monday, and pay the remaining Ksh7.5 million in installments across three months. The MP secured his release after paying the first installment on Monday.

The Chief Magistrate said he considered the fact that the MP was catering for the treatment of the victim and the family’s pre-bail report which indicated that they could not afford to pay for DJ Evolve’s treatment.

The court found that locking the MP up would “disadvantage” his victim who is still in a critical condition.

The Embakasi East MP, whose given name is Paul Ongili, was charged with attempted murder of the DJ and behaving in a disorderly manner while armed with a pistol.