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Mwakwere denies inciting Kenyans

NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 18- Newly appointed Trade Minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere has defended himself over accusations of hate speech saying that the remarks he made were directed at his opponents in the Matuga by- election.

Mr Mwakwere claimed that he only spoke against his rivals who had provoked him and attempted to rig him out in the election.

“I’m not aware of any hate speech made by me. What I’m seeing are clips of a sentence or two but if people understand Kiswahili, (as I said it in Kiswahili) there is nothing (there)  that you can translate as hate speech,” he said.

The minister said he had not received any communication from the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) accusing him of uttering inciting remarks.

In a press briefing where he was supposed to outline his plans for his new docket, Mr Mwakwere showed journalists photos and video clips of some of his challengers dishing out money to his constituents in the exercise that was marred by a series of attacks on some of the supporters.

His reaction came a day after the NCIC urged the Attorney General Amos Wako to prosecute him for violating Section 13 and 62 of the National Cohesion and Integration Act 2008.

Mr Mwakwere however launched an attack on the commission saying that instead of vilifying him, the NCIC and the Interim Independent Electoral Commission should carry out thorough investigations and recommend the arrest of people he termed as the real culprits in the campaigns that saw him recapture his seat as the area MP.

The minister who was flanked by two councilors who were allegedly beaten during the campaigns said he was willing to provide ‘evidence’ that some people incited his constituents and others openly bribed them.

Although Attorney General Amos Wako says NCIC’s allegations are being investigated by the police and his office, it remains to be seen whether any action will be taken against the minister who just re-joined cabinet on Monday. 

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