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6 MPs to face hate speech charges Tuesday – Muhoro

The Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Ndegwa Muhoro said files against five were ready while the sixth was being finalised in time for court appearances/CFM

The Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Ndegwa Muhoro said files against five were ready while the sixth was being finalised in time for court appearances/CFM

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 14 – Six Members of Parliament under investigations over hate speech are due to face charges in court Tuesday.

The Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Ndegwa Muhoro said files against five were ready while the sixth was being finalised in time for court appearances.

“Right now as we speak, some of them are recording statements at the DCI and we should be appearing in court in the course of the day,” he stated at a press briefing.

He said his office will be seeking more time to continue with the investigations against the six legislators alleged to have made inciting remarks.

Of Muhoro’s concern was the danger the remarks can cause in a country that highly polarised.

He warned that his office together with relevant government agencies from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the National Cohesion and Integration Commission, will make every effort to deal with individuals perpetuating hate speech.

“We will go for all regardless of your political position. You make any hate speech or anything that will interfere with the stability of this country, we are going for you and this will continue,” Muhoro cautioned.

Responding to questions why investigations take long or cases flop in court, Muhoro pointed at the challenges of getting witnesses to give evidence or own up to the video recordings which is a requirement of arguing a case before court.

Those expected to face charges are Jubilee MPs Moses Kuria, Kimani Ngunjiri, Ferdinand Waititu, and Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) MPs Aisha Jumwa, Timothy Bosire and Junet Mohammed.

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Police were also said to be probing Machakos Senator Johnson Muthama over similar charges.

Suna East MP Mohammed was arrested outside the Nation Centre on Tuesday morning as he left the NTV studios.

MPs Kuria and Waititu had been questioned at the DCI headquarters on Monday evening and freed with instructions to return on Tuesday.

Kuria has a pending hate speech case and the National Cohesion and Integration Commission indicated it would make a renewed bid to have his bail terms cancelled.

NCIC Chairman Francis ole Kaparo said the government will crack the whip on every person who makes reckless remarks likely to threaten peace and stability of the country.

He said his office and other law enforcers were on high alert not only within Nairobi but across the counties to ensure nobody gets away with hate speech.

According to Kaparo, the DCI was also strengthening its skills to investigate people spreading hate speech on social media.

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