This archive report was first published on 30 June 2020.
On June 30, 2020, Kenya's top prosecutor revealed the reason behind the slow progress of the case linking MP Paul Ongili Babu Owino to the attempted murder of Felix Orinda aka DJ Evolve.
The case has been stalled due to the victim's inability to record a statement following the shooting, which left him paralyzed and with a speech impediment.
According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the victim's condition has made it challenging to record his statement.
Babu Owino was arraigned in court on January 20, 2020, and charged with attempted murder as well as behaving in a disorderly manner.
He denied the charge and was released on a Ksh. 10 million bond with two sureties of the same amount, or in the alternative, cash bail of Ksh. 5 million.
The ODPP had vehemently opposed his release on bail/bond.
Further, the Prosecutor added that the matter was scheduled for mention on March 20, 2020, but this was not possible following COVID-19 directives issued by the National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ) on March 16, 2020, scaling down court operations.
Despite the slow progress of the case, Kenyans have taken to social media to criticize the inefficiency of the justice system, while others argue that once a suspect has been charged, the law should be allowed to take its course, no matter the duration.
