Alai and Babu Owino in gun drama at high end restaurant

Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai. [File, Standard] 

Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai was involved in a gun drama with Embakasi East MP Babu Owino at a high-end Nairobi restaurant.

The incident adds a new, alarming chapter to Babu Owino’s own history of firearm-related controversies, most notably the case involving DJ Evolve.

Trouble started after the two politicians unexpectedly bumped into each other at the Cedars Lebanese restaurant in Kilimani.

According to witness accounts, the MP was in a lunch meeting with an unidentified man when Alai walked into the establishment.

The MCA walked to where Owino was seated, and a verbal confrontation ensued.

Alai accused the MP of allegedly hiring a popular blogger to tarnish his wife's reputation.

The blogger has been posting on X, a series of posts targeting Alai's wife.

"Owino, in his defence, stated that he doesn't know Alai's wife personally and has absolutely no reason to malign her name," recounted a witness at the bar.

The situation escalated when Alai, seemingly enraged, withdrew his pistol, cocked it, and aimed it at Owino before attempting to pull the trigger several times.

"Fortunately, the gun wasn't properly cocked, and it jammed. It was at that point that a senior police officer who was having lunch at the restaurant swung into action and disarmed Alai," revealed our source.

The officer who intervened is Mohamed Amin Shurie, the head of financial crimes at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

A visibly shaken Alai then left the establishment immediately. A rattled Owino also departed the premises.

Efforts by The Standard to reach Alai for comment bore no fruit, as he did not pick up calls.

Owino's lawyer, when contacted, stated that he would consult his client and get back to us with a statement. He had, however, not done so by the time of going to press.

This incident is likely to arouse public attention, given the MP’s troubled history with firearms. Most notably, in January 2020, Owino was arrested and charged with the attempted murder of Felix Orinda, popularly known as DJ Evolve.

The shooting occurred at Nairobi's B-Club lounge in Kilimani, where Owino allegedly shot the DJ in the neck. DJ Evolve survived but suffered severe spinal cord injuries, leaving him confined to a wheelchair and requiring constant medical care.

 In a controversial turn, DJ Evolve’s family later filed an affidavit requesting to drop the attempted murder charges, a move that sparked public outcry and allegations of coercion for out-of-court settlement.

Despite this, the state proceeded with lesser charges of behaving in a disorderly manner while carrying a firearm. Owino has always maintained the shooting was accidental.