Babu Owino Admitted as High Court Advocate Despite Controversial Legal Past

Embakasi East MP Paul Ongili, known as Babu Owino, has been admitted as an advocate of the High Court.

Owino has been one of Kenya’s most controversial politicians, facing several high-profile criminal cases over more than a decade. None of these cases has resulted in a lasting conviction, allowing him to retain his parliamentary seat and continue his political activity.

The most serious case arose in January 2020, when popular entertainer Felix Orinda, known as DJ Evolve, was shot at a Nairobi nightclub. Owino was charged with attempted murder, an offence that carried severe legal and political consequences. 

In December 2021, the Director of Public Prosecutions withdrew the charge and substituted it with a lesser offence of unlawful use of a firearm. The change followed a plea agreement under which Owino undertook to meet the victim’s medical and living expenses. The court approved the decision, citing constitutional principles that encourage reconciliation.

That firearm case ended in August 2023 when the court acquitted Owino, faulting the prosecution for weak investigations and procedural failures. The ruling brought the DJ Evolve matter to a close and removed the last active criminal case against the MP.

Owino has also faced charges linked to political speech and protest. In 2017, he was charged with subversion, incitement to violence and offensive conduct over remarks made at a rally in Nairobi’s Kawangware area. Prosecutors alleged that the statements were intended to undermine the presidency. The case was dismissed in 2021 after the court found that the evidence presented was insufficient.

In 2023, Owino was again charged with subversion following opposition-led protests organised by the Azimio la Umoja coalition. The High Court later declared the offence of subversion unconstitutional, leading to the termination of the case. Owino and six co-accused were released, and he later announced plans to pursue compensation for what he described as unlawful detention.

Against this legal background, Owino was admitted to the Bar on 23 May 2025 during a ceremony in which more than 600 advocates were sworn in. Since then, he has appeared in court representing protesters arrested during demonstrations linked to the anniversary of the Gen Z protests, working alongside senior political and legal figures including Martha Karua and Kalonzo Musyoka.

He has also paid fines to secure the release of more than 200 inmates serving sentences for minor offences, actions that have placed him at the centre of ongoing legal aid efforts.