Gun said to be Babu Owino’s recovered as probe into B-Club shooting hots up

DCI detectives handling the case of alleged shooting of a DJ by MP Babu Owino have recovered a gun said to have been used by the lawmaker in attacking the entertainer on Friday morning.

DCI, through their official Twitter handle, said they had recovered the firearm and several bullets on Friday mid-morning.

“Detectives have managed to recover the firearm that is suspected to have been used by Hon. Babu Owino at the B-Club shooting incident. Nine rounds of ammunition and a spent cartridge have also been recovered and placed as exhibit awaiting analysis by ballistic experts,” said the DCI in their January 17 tweet.

This comes hours after Owino was arrested at the Nairobi Hospital, where he had gone to visit his alleged victim.

The detained MP earlier claimed he was provoked when a shooting incident, in which he is linked to, happened at Nairobi’s B-Club joint on Friday morning.

In a statement posted on his official Facebook page on Friday mid-morning (January 17), Owino, who is accused of shooting Felix Orinda, a DJ at B-Club, claims he has been fearing for his life, and that when “aggressive individuals” confronted him at the nightspot, a resultant melee erupted, leading to the shooting.

Owino, however, failed to say in the statement whether he was the one who shot Orinda, or not.

“A few weeks ago, I made a public statement regarding threats that I had been receiving against my life. At the turn of the year, I reported an attempted assassination at the Parliament Police Station under OB number OB21/17/11/2019 at 17:28hrs. I have been living under the weight of intimidation and threats by my political opponents,” said the MP.

“Yesterday [Thursday, January 16], was the culmination of these efforts by my enemies. While enjoying the company of my friends at a popular Nairobi restaurant, I was surrounded by a large group of aggressive individuals. In the melee, there was an exchange of gunfire,” added the lawmaker, shying away from disclosing whether he was the one who shot Orinda.

“I invite the relevant authorities to conduct their investigations without fear or favor, and I remain confident that the truth will come out. I urge my supporters to remain calm. I will continue to serve wananchi fearlessly. This will not deter me from supporting H. E Uhuru Kenyatta and H. E Raila Odinga in the journey to transform our country.”

According to a report filed at the Kilimani Police Station by B-Club’s security manager, George Otieno, Babu Owino whipped out his gun and fired a bullet in Felix Orinda’s neck at 7am inside the nightspot.

“DCI officers are currently probing the matter, and the suspect will be arraigned once the investigations are concluded,” Nairobi police boss Philip Ndolo told K24 Digital on phone Friday morning.

DCI chief, George Kinoti, says Owino will be charged with attempted murder once the investigations are over.

On Friday mid-morning, police threw a cordon around B-Club, and the MP’s vehicle, a Toyota Landcruiser VX, which they treated as scenes of crime.

Owino, who is being held at the Kilimani police post, has hired lawyer Cliff Ombeta to help him in the case.