‘I should be in jail’: Babu Owino admits responsibility in DJ Evolve shooting
In a staggering admission that has sent shockwaves through the political landscape, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has confessed that he “should be in jail” for the shooting of Felix Orinda, popularly known as DJ Evolve.
During a candid television interview on Monday May 4, 2026, the Nairobi gubernatorial hopeful bypassed his previous court acquittal to argue for a “restorative” rather than “retributive” form of justice.
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Addressing the incident directly, Owino stated:
“There was a question here that talked about DJ Evolve, I don’t need to run away from. This issue has been a serious issue from before. Something happened that was quite unfortunate.
I took responsibility as a leader. People are saying that you know in a working state Babu should be in jail – I agree I should be in jail. I agree but there are different types of justice.”
He added that; “There is the retributive justice that says punish that if you were the judge during King Solomon’s era then you would say cut the baby into two – we would have lost the baby. Then there is the restorative justice that tries to restore to its original state – that’s also a form of justice.”
Ksh70 million medical expenditure
The MP disclosed the eye-watering financial toll of the recovery process, revealing he has taken on significant personal debt to fund the DJ’s ongoing care.
“With this, I have been taking care of medical bills,” Owino explained.
“Up to now, I have taken loans from banks, from my SACCO. I have spent close to Ksh70 million on DJ Evolve. The amount of money that we spend per month on DJ Evolve is close to around Ksh500,000.”
A ‘Damascus moment’
Babu Owino described the night of the shooting as a “Damascus moment” that fundamentally altered the course of his life.
He revealed that he has since quit alcohol and hard drugs, claiming that the tragedy has transformed both him and the DJ for the better.
Narrating the moments leading up to the accidental discharge, the MP claimed there was no prior conflict between the two men.
According to Babu Owino, DJ Evolve had simply asked if his firearm was genuine; when the MP removed it to show him, the weapon discharged accidentally.
