This archive report was first published on 30 June 2020.
On June 30, 2020, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) addressed the public's concerns regarding the delay in the case involving Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino and DJ Evolve.
The case has been ongoing since January 2020, when Babu Owino was arraigned in court and charged with attempted murder and behaving in a disorderly manner. He denied the charges and was released on a Ksh10 million bond with two sureties of the same amount.
However, the case has been delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which forced courts to scale down operations. The case was set for mention on March 20, 2020, but was postponed.
According to the ODPP, the case has been slowed down by the inability of the victim, DJ Evolve, to record a statement following the shooting, which affected his speech. The victim is paralyzed and has a speech impediment, making it challenging to record his statement.
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji has urged the Judiciary to prioritize the hearing of the case, stating that the Covid-19 disruptions have delayed justice for DJ Evolve.
Reacting to the ODPP's statement, former Minister of Justice Martha Karua noted, 'Time to speed up #DJEvolveSpeaks can be assisted to record his statement now.'
