Orange Democratic Movement CEO Oduor Ong'wen has issued a statement on Embakasi East MP Babu Owino's gun drama that led to the hospitalisation of B-Club's Deejay Evolve for over six months.
Through his social media pages on Wednesday, July 1, Ongw'en argued that ODM was not a party to the incident which saw Babu Owino reportedly shoot entertainer Felix Orinda popularly known as DJ Evolve on Friday, January 17.
The CEO responded after Kenyans reached out to ODM leader Raila Odinga over the issue. A number of them related DJ Evolves's shooting to the murder of African-American George Floyd in the US.
They asked the former Prime Minister to respond to the B-Club shooting similar to how he issued a statement on the death of George Floyd.
"For the record, Babu Owino and DJ Evolve matter was a bar brawl turned near-fatal.
"The ODM party has no direct interest in the matter other than wishing the victim speedy and full restoration of the health and urging the State’s criminal justice system to serve justice," Ong'wen tweeted on Wednesday, July 1.
When Kenyans.co.ke reached out to ODM's Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna, he declined to comment on the issue stating that the sentiments by the party CEO could only be attributed to himself. He directed all queries to Ong'wen whose phone was switched off.
After Floyd's death in the US, Odinga mourned the deceased while praying that there be justice and freedom for all human beings who call America their country. He added that citizens be judged by the content of their character and not the colour of their skin.
DJ Evolve was discharged from the hospital on Thursday, June 18. In an interview with NTV, Evolve stated that he had not yet forgiven Babu Owino and was waiting for the court's verdict.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) on Tuesday, June 30, explained the delay in the case, stating that it was occasioned by the inability of the victim to record a statement following the shooting which affected his speech.
Thirdway Alliance leader Ekuru Aukot led the onslaught against Odinga, urging him to pursue justice for the DJ as opposed to maintaining silence on the matter.
"Ever heard of DJ Evolve shot by an MP from the party you lead? Tuanze hapa nyumbani kwanza," Aukot tweeted quoting an earlier tweet by the ODM leader calling for justice for George Floyd.
"Raila Odinga claiming justice for George Floyd while his party member shot a man in cold blood is the irony of ironies," one netizen tweeted.
After the shooting incident that left DJ Evolve paralysed, ODM issued a statement distancing itself from the brawl.
“Matters of alleged criminal conduct are beyond the realm of a political party. The law enforcement agencies are in charge. The ODM party is subordinate to the law of the land. Our concern at the moment is with the victim of this extremely unfortunate incident,” the statement by ODM, issued by Sifuna read.
