Tension gripped an upscale Nairobi restaurant after Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai was allegedly involved in a gun-related confrontation with Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, an incident that caused panic among patrons and renewed public scrutiny of political conduct.
The incident occurred at Cedars Lebanese Restaurant in Kilimani, where the two politicians reportedly encountered each other unexpectedly. According to eyewitness accounts, Babu Owino was seated at a table engaged in a lunch meeting when Alai entered the restaurant, noticed him and walked directly towards him.
Witnesses said a heated verbal exchange followed, with Alai accusing Owino of being behind online attacks directed at his wife. The accusations were linked to recent social media posts by activist Maverick Aoko, which had made personal claims about Alai’s family.
Owino reportedly denied the allegations, stating that he did not know Alai’s wife and had no involvement in the online commentary. The confrontation quickly escalated, drawing the attention of diners and staff.
Several witnesses allege that Alai then pulled out a firearm, cocked it and pointed it at Owino during the altercation. Accounts indicate that he attempted to fire the weapon but it failed to discharge.
The situation was brought under control after a senior police officer who was dining at the restaurant intervened and disarmed Alai. The officer was later identified as Mohamed Amin Shurie, the head of financial crimes at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
Following the intervention, both politicians left the restaurant separately. No injuries were reported, but witnesses described the scene as tense and frightening, with some patrons leaving immediately after the incident.
Efforts to obtain a comment from Alai were unsuccessful, as calls to his phone went unanswered. Owino’s legal team indicated that they would consult their client before issuing any official statement, but none had been released by the time of publication.
The incident has drawn renewed attention to Babu Owino’s past legal troubles involving firearms. In January 2020, Owino was charged in connection with the shooting of DJ Felix Orinda, popularly known as DJ Evolve, at a Kilimani nightclub. DJ Evolve survived the shooting but sustained life-altering spinal injuries.
Although the attempted murder charge was later dropped following an affidavit by the victim’s family, the case generated national debate and controversy. Owino has maintained that the shooting was accidental and continues to deny any wrongdoing.
Authorities have yet to issue an official statement on the latest incident, as questions linger over possible investigations and accountability following the dramatic confrontation in Kilimani.
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