Babu Owino Elated as He Secures Orders against IG Kanja in His Second Case: "Another Win"
- Embakasi East MP Babu Owino celebrated a major legal milestone after securing his second courtroom win as an advocate
- The outspoken lawmaker represented blogger Ndiangui Kinyagia, who went missing after an alleged arrest that raised concerns over forced disappearances
- Babu told TUKO.co.ke that the High Court ordered top police bosses to appear and explain Kinyagia's whereabouts in person, even as DCI denied holding him
TUKO.co.ke journalist Harry Ivan Mboto has over three years of experience reporting on politics and current affairs in Kenya
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino secured a second court victory as an advocate, this time in a case involving missing blogger and IT specialist, Ndiangui Kinyagia.
Source: UGC
The case unfolded at the High Court in Nairobi on Monday, June 30, where Owino appeared on behalf of Kinyagia, who was allegedly arrested by detectives under unclear circumstances and has not been seen since.
Appearing before Justice Chacha Mwita, Babu filed a habeas corpus application to compel police to produce Kinyagia in court.
"We have the facts that DCI arrested this man in his house, an inventory was taken to show that he was indeed arrested. Up to date, 10 days later, he hasn't been produced, which means he has been abducted and is being held incommunicado," he told TUKO.co.ke outside court.
The judge directed the Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to produce Kinyagia in court by Tuesday, July 1, or appear in person at 11am.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss Mohamed Amin was also summoned to attend the session alongside the IG, as pressure mounts on law enforcement to account for the blogger’s disappearance.
What did DCI say about Kinyagia's whereabouts?
Earlier, TUKO.co.ke reported that the DCI had denied detaining the 31-year-old blogger, despite claims suggesting he had been picked up by officers.
Speaking at a press briefing on June 30, Amin insisted that Kinyagia was not in the custody of the National Police Service. Instead, he urged the blogger to present himself to the nearest police station.
Amin confirmed that Kinyagia remained a person of interest in an active investigation linked to the June 25 anti-government protests.
Authorities claimed he was connected to a viral post that parodied government communication, promoting a controversial protest timetable that included calls for a symbolic “transition council” and a march to State House.
Was Kinyagia's home raided?
A group of officers believed to be from the DCI reportedly raided Kinyagia’s residence in Kinoo on June 21.
Witnesses said about ten unmarked vehicles were involved in the evening operation, during which officers spent hours negotiating with the caretaker before gaining entry.
Source: UGC
Electronic devices were seized from the house, and according to the DCI, an inventory was taken in line with standard procedure.
However, Kinyagia himself was not present at the time of the search. DCI boss Amin later affirmed that the operation followed proper channels and that he would personally appear in court to clarify details as required by the judge.
What was Babu's first win as advocate?
Babu Owino’s first legal triumph came just days earlier when he secured bail for two men accused of circulating the same viral protest timetable.
Suleiman Wanjau Bilali and Robert Otiti Elwak had been arrested in Muthurwa and Kayole, but a Nairobi court rejected the DCI’s request to detain them for an extra 10 days.
The court instead released both on KSh 50,000 personal bonds, with an alternative of KSh 20,000 cash bail and one contact person each. Representing them in court, Babu hailed the ruling as a win for justice and the Constitution.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
