The hearing of a case in which Embakasi East MP Paul Ongili, popularly known as Babu Owino, is facing subversion and uttering insulting words against President Uhuru Kenyatta has been pushed to February 6, 2018.
The case came up for mention before Milimani trial magistrate Kennedy Cheruiyot on Wednesday where defence lawyers led by Nelson Havi agreed with the prosecution that the case be heard on February 6 and March 2, next year.
The Magistrate also dispensed the mentions of the MP’s case and directed that he only attends the hearings.
[caption caption="Babu Owino"]
[/caption]
Babu is currently out on a Sh500,000 cash bail and so far the prosecution has furnished the defense with only two copies of witness statements out of the seven.
Magistrate Cheruiyot directed the prosecution to ensure all documented evidence is supplied to the defense team before the hearing date.
The MP is accused of subversion and uttering inflammatory words against the President during a rally in Dagoretti North on September 24.
On Wednesday, the MP revealed that there was a plot by the Government to have him face a charge of treason, whose penalty is death.
Speaking during an interview on Hot 96, Babu decried mistreatment by government officers and stated: "There are plans to charge me with treason."
[caption caption="President Uhuru Kenyatta and Babu Owino"]
[/caption]
Treason in Kenya is punishable by death as per the existing laws.
A number of crimes including sedition, intended to undermine or overthrow the Government, harm or kill the President or instigate or engage in war against the Republic, are deemed acts of treason.
The penal code states that “any person who is guilty of the offence of treason shall be sentenced to death.”
