Kenya This Week: Babu Owino Acquitted In DJ Evolve's Case, Other Trending Stories

• Felix Orinda Odhiambo, alias DJ Evolve was shot in the neck on January 17, 2020, an incident that has left him largely immobile
• Senior Principal Magistrate Bernard Ochoi said that the prosecution failed to prove that the bullet that hit Evolve emanated from Babu's firearm
• While reiterating his commitment to revive Mumias Sugar Company, President William Ruto said he would not entertain any cartels in the sugar sector
• Also this week, the Chairperson of the Commission on Administrative Justice, Florence Kajuju, narrated the challenges some members of KDF go through

The last week of August 2023 saw Embakasi East MP Babu Owino acquitted of charges of being disorderly while handling a firearm.

The case involved the shooting of Felix Orinda Odhiambo, alias DJ Evolve, who was shot in the neck on January 17, 2020, an incident that has left him largely immobile.

On Tuesday, August 29, Senior Principal Magistrate Bernard Ochoi acquitted the MP on the grounds that the prosecution failed to prove its case.

Also this week, President William Ruto fired a serious warning to sugar cartels and maintained he will fight them tooth and nail as he seeks to restore Mumias Sugar Company.

We look at these and other stories that made the headlines this week including a move by the Cabinet to approve the scrapping of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).

1. MP Babu Owino Acquitted In Firearm Misuse Case

Senior Principal Magistrate Bernard Ochoi said that the prosecution failed to prove that the bullet that hit Evolve emanated from Babu's firearm.

The magistrate observed that the case was of great public interest, but the investigations were shoddy, especially on exhibits, and that no medical evidence proved that Babu's firearm injured Evolve.

Earlier, Ochoi had recognised that the lawmaker elected on an ODM ticket had been taking good care of the DJ.

"Taking all the above into account, I have come to the conclusion that this is a matter where the court should encourage reconciliation as envisaged in the constitution and therefore I will allow the withdrawal against the accused in count one. The accused is acquitted," said Ochoi.

2. William Ruto Tells Sugar Cartels to Leave Kenya or Be Jailed

While reiterating his commitment to revive Mumias Sugar Company, the president said he would not entertain any sugar cartels standing in the way of his plans.

Speaking in Bungoma county during his tour of the Mulembe nation, the head of state said he is ready to jail the dubious dealers in the sector, further asking them even to leave the country.

"We have already told all these people to leave! This company belongs to the people, and we plan to revive it as we entertain nobody. I have already given them three options; they either leave the country, I jail them, or they travel and go to heaven," a tough-talking president said.

Before this public warning to cartels, he had linked billionaire businessman Singh Rai to powerful cartels standing in the way of his plans to revive the local sugar industry.

3. Cabinet Approves Plan to Dissolve NHIF

It was a new dawn in Kenya's healthcare sector this week after the Cabinet approved the scrapping of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).

In the new plan, the Cabinet sitting at the Kakamega State Lodge on Tuesday, August 29 declared that NHIF will be replaced with three new funds.

A Cabinet dispatch seen by TUKO.co.ke showed that the move aligns with the ruling Kenya Kwanza administration’s pledge to accelerate Kenya’s attainment of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

This, the Cabinet observed within the Kenya Kwanza administration’s plan for a healthier nation espoused under the Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).

4. Ombudsman Florence Kajuju Appears Before Parliamentary Committee

Also this week, the Chairperson of the Commission on Administrative Justice, Florence Kajuju, narrated the challenges some members of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) go through.

Speaking after appearing before three joint parliamentary committees, Kajuju disclosed that some former KDF soldiers have been lamenting about mistreatment by senior officers.

Kajuju emotionally narrated how a former KDF officer stripped naked in her office to show her how he was denied justice despite getting injured while in the line of duty.

"A retired soldier came to our office and demanded to see me, and he stripped. He had some disability, 45% burns on his private parts. I did know what to do. He said when he went to war, an explosive messed up his private parts," Kajuju narrated.

5. Mathe wa Ngara Asks Court to Release Her on Bail

On Wednesday, August 30, Nancy Kigunzu, also known as Mathe wa Ngara, asked the JKIA Law Court to grant her a bail release because she was ill.

Kigunzu, who collapsed on Monday, August 28, during the hearing of her bail application, told the court that her medical condition requires ongoing monitoring and medication and that she is concerned that if she is denied bail, it will worsen.

When she appeared before Magistrate Njeri Thuku, Kigunzu denied claims that she posed a flight risk and would skip court appearances.

Although she was detained in the Nairobi Central Business District, Kigunzu claimed, through her attorney, Danstan Omari, that her children were detained in a residential area. However, the police were aware of her residence.