MP Babu Owino Makes Court Debut as Advocate, Defends Alleged June 25 Gen Z Protests Organisers
- Embakasi East MP Babu Owino made his debut as a High Court advocate, defending two athletes arrested over the June 25 protests
- The suspects were accused of inciting unrest online and plotting to infiltrate peaceful demonstrations with violence
- Prosecutors sought to detain the pair for 10 days, citing national security concerns and ongoing investigations
- Babu opposed the request, arguing the arrests violated constitutional rights and lacked credible supporting evidence
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Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino made his first appearance in court as a High Court advocate, representing two suspects linked to the June 25 anniversary demonstrations.
Source: UGC
In the Thursday, June 26 proceedings, Babu appeared alongside lawyer John Maina to defend Suleiman Wanjau Bilali, a former national boxing team captain, and Robert Otiti Elwak, an ex-Harambee Stars player.
The two were arrested in Muthurwa and Kayole and brought to court as police sought to detain them for 10 days to complete investigations.
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The pair is accused of sharing false and inflammatory content on social media to allegedly mobilise unlawful protests.
Police told Senior Principal Magistrate Dolphina Alego that the suspects had posted a provocative protest schedule on X, aiming to incite public unrest.
Prosecutors further claimed the two were part of a larger group planning to infiltrate peaceful demonstrations with violent elements, potentially threatening national security and inciting chaos near the State House.
According to the investigating officer, the suspects allegedly encouraged looting, disrupted public order, and instigated violence.
Authorities requested the 10-day detention period to analyse the suspects’ phones, examine their M-Pesa and bank transactions, and record witness statements.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) supported the request, citing the seriousness and complexity of the case.
How did Babu defend alleged protesters?
However, Babu Owino opposed the application, arguing that the prosecution lacked substantial evidence to warrant extended detention.
He defended the suspects as national heroes, highlighting their past contributions to Kenyan sports.
Source: Facebook
The lawmaker further claimed that the rights of the two had been violated, revealing that they had been in custody for more than the stipulated time.
"Article 49 of the Kenyan Constitution states clearly the rights of an arrested person, that an arrested person must be produced before a competent court of law within 24 hours, and further, that that arrested person has a right to bail or bond. The two accused persons, having been arrested on the 24th, they were denied even a police bond, knowing very well that they are persons who are well known in this country.
"We are being told by the investigating officer that they have an application before you, a miscellaneous application, to further hold the accused persons for 10 more days. It's like we are doing things in a very opposite way, because the right way to do things according to the rules of natural justice is to investigate an offence or a crime and then make an arrest," Babu stated.
He accused the police of being on a fishing expedition, maintaining that there was no concrete reason to continue holding them.
Did government withdraw Babu's security?
In a separate report, Babu claimed the government removed his official security detail as retaliation for his participation in the June 25 Gen Z-led protests in Nairobi.
He described his presence as a peaceful exercise of democratic rights aimed at holding the government accountable.
The MP emphasised that this move isn’t just personal, it’s “an attack on democracy itself,” and signals a government that’s uneasy with dissent.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
