Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai is now under sharp public scrutiny following fresh claims that he allegedly pulled a gun on Embakasi East MP Babu Owino at an upscale Nairobi restaurant, an incident that has reopened painful memories of the shooting that left DJ Evolve paralysed.
According to eyewitness accounts, the incident unfolded at Cedars Lebanese Restaurant in Kilimani, where Alai and Owino reportedly ran into each other unexpectedly. What began as a verbal confrontation is said to have escalated dangerously, with Alai allegedly drawing a pistol and pointing it at Owino before attempting to pull the trigger several times.
Witnesses claimed the gun jammed, averting what could have been another life-altering tragedy. A senior police officer who was dining at the same restaurant reportedly intervened swiftly, disarming Alai and preventing further escalation.
Embakasi MP Babu Owino speaks during a past media presser. Photo: NMG Source: Billy Oganda
The officer was later identified as Mohamed Amin Shurie, a senior official at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations. A visibly shaken Alai is said to have left the restaurant immediately, while Owino departed moments later after regaining composure.
The alleged confrontation has reignited national outrage, not just because of the recklessness involved, but because of its chilling similarity to the January 2020 incident involving DJ Evolve.
In that case, Owino was charged after DJ Evolve, whose real name is Felix Orinda, was shot at close range inside a Kilimani nightclub. The bullet left the young DJ permanently wheelchair-bound, dependent on lifelong medical care, and turned his life upside down.
Although Owino has consistently maintained the shooting was accidental, the incident remains one of the most painful reminders of how quickly gun violence can destroy lives.
Against that backdrop, many Kenyans have questioned how an elected leader like Alai could allegedly allow a disagreement to spiral into a potentially fatal encounter.
Critics argue that the MCA’s actions, if proven, reflect a disturbing culture of impunity and casual relationship with firearms among those in power.
A screenshot from the Standard newspaper, Sunday’s edition.
The incident has also sparked debate about accountability, with calls for thorough investigations and firm action regardless of political stature. Efforts to reach Alai for comment have so far been unsuccessful.
As Kenyans continue to rally around DJ Evolve’s long and painful journey toward healing, the latest scare has served as a sobering reminder: one jammed gun, one delayed trigger, or one timely intervention can be the thin line between life, paralysis, and death.
