Babu Owino charged with assaulting voter

Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has on Thursday been arraigned at the Kibera Law Court to answer to assault charges.

The first-time MP, appearing before Chief Magistrate Joyce Gandani, has been charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm to a voter, Joshua Otieno Obiende, on the August 8th at Soweto Social Hall in Embakasi East Constituency and using force during election contrary to Section 11 (c) o the Election Offences Act No. 37 0f 2016.

The controversial ODM MP is accused with others not before the court of assaulting the voter in order to allegedly refrain him from voting in the General Election.

Owino, however, has denied the charges with the defence pleading that the court grants him bail since he has been in custody since Monday.

If found guilty, the first count attracts life imprisonment while the second count under the Election Act attracts Ksh1 million fine or a sentence of a term not exceeding six years.

Prosecution has objected to this plea, saying that the accused might interfere or even intimidate witnesses if released on bail.

Prosecutors wants the accused to remain in custody until they secure evidence.

Owino was re-arrested on Wednesday, just hours after being released on bail for subversion case.

His bail ruling will be made on Friday.