Embakasi East Member of Parliament Paul Ongili, better known as Babu Owino, made a dramatic and highly publicized debut as a High Court advocate on Thursday, stepping into the courtroom for the first time since his admission to the Bar to defend two suspects accused of orchestrating the controversial June 25 protest anniversary that rattled Nairobi and parts of the country.
Owino, who was recently admitted to practice as an advocate of the High Court of Kenya, made his maiden appearance in court representing Suleiman Wanjau Bilali and Robert Otiti Elwak, the latter a former Harambee Stars captain.
He appeared alongside veteran lawyer John Maina, as the defense team fought to secure the release of the two men, who now face serious allegations of inciting public unrest and mobilizing illegal demonstrations through social media platforms.
According to police investigators, Bilali and Elwak were arrested during a coordinated crackdown in Muthurwa and Kayole on June 25, hours before demonstrations flared up across major towns including Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu.
The duo is accused of publishing inflammatory content on X (formerly Twitter), which authorities claim was aimed at provoking widespread civil disorder.
“The suspects published a highly provocative protest timeline meant to stir mass action and encourage confrontations with law enforcement,” police told Senior Principal Magistrate Dolphina Alego.
Investigators further alleged that the accused were part of a clandestine group that had planned to embed violent actors within peaceful protests, with the intention of inciting chaos, targeting government installations, and even attempting to approach State House,a national security zone.
The prosecution, led by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), asked the court to allow police to hold the suspects for an additional 10 days.
They cited the need for time to conduct digital forensic analysis on seized devices, review mobile money and bank transactions, and collect witness statements to solidify their case.
“The gravity of the allegations, the risk of interference with investigations, and the potential threat to national security necessitate custodial orders,” the ODPP argued.
Owino’s appearance marked a symbolic and strategic moment, blending his well-known political activism with his new legal credentials.
Having recently completed his legal studies and passed the bar, Thursday’s case was his first official courtroom representation as an advocate of the High Court.
In court, Owino passionately defended the suspects, arguing that the state had failed to produce concrete evidence linking them to any violent activity or illegal conspiracy.
“This case is a blatant attempt to use state machinery to silence voices of dissent,” Owino told the court.
“My clients are being held hostage by a system that fears public accountability and mislabels protest as criminality.”
Co-counsel John Maina added that the suspects had clean criminal records and were being unfairly profiled due to their digital influence.
The arrests come amid renewed national unrest, with growing discontent over economic hardships, high taxation, and what many see as increasing suppression of democratic rights.
The June 25 protests, marking the anniversary of last year’s anti-finance bill demonstrations, reignited tensions between the public and the state, with security forces accused of responding with heavy-handed tactics.
Human rights groups, including Amnesty International Kenya and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), have condemned the arrests and warned that extended detentions without trial risk violating constitutional protections.
Magistrate Dolphina Alego is set to deliver her ruling on the custodial request on Friday, June 27.
Bilali and Elwak remain in custody at the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) headquarters pending the court’s decision.
For Babu Owino, whose transition from the legislative to the legal arena has been closely watched, the case underscores both the gravity of the national moment and the personal evolution of a politician-turned-advocate.
Whether this marks a new chapter in his career or a one-off courtroom cameo, his debut as a High Court lawyer has already made headlines across the country.
