A Jubilee Party agent testifying in an election petition against Embakasi East MP Paul Ongili alias Babu Owino on Thursday defended him against claims that he attacked one of his opponents during the electioneering period.
Samuel Mwangi, who was testifying for petitioner Francis Mureithi, stated that Babu did not beat up his rival Joshua Otieno Obiendi, who vied for the Embakasi East Parliamentary seat on an Amani National Congress (ANC) ticket as alleged.
According to the witness, Mr Otieno was pushed and injured by Babu's agents and not him personally.
[caption caption="File image of MP Babu Owino and his supporters outside court"]
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The agent, however, failed to recognise who exactly pushed and injured the rival candidate.
Regarding allegations that Mr Ongili bribed voters to support him, he (Mwangi) explained that at no given time did he see the MP bribing the electorate as alleged.
The ANC candidate had on Thursday told the court that he was seriously beaten up by MP Babu and his alleged goons.
Mr Otieno explained that he spent five days in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) following the beating.
Justice Joseph Sergon heard that the incident took place at Soweto Polling Station.
He stated: "Mr Owino pushed me first then addressed the goons in Dholuo telling them they should work on me properly.
"I was taken to KNH by good Samaritans where I was admitted to the ICU for five days before I could gain consciousness," he explained.
The remarks were made during the hearing of a petition filed by Mr Mureithi challenging the election of the former University of Nairobi student leader.
[caption caption="Petitioner Francis Mureithi testifying in the case"]
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