Kenya minister suspended over hate speech

A Kenyan minister has been suspended from government, a day after he was charged with incitement to violence.

Dr Wilfred Machage, the assistant minister for Roads, was suspended by President Kibaki on Thursday.

"His Excellency President Mwai Kibaki, CGH, MP, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces has today suspended Hon. Dr. Wilfred Machage from the office of Assistant Minister pending determination of the hate speech case in court against the Assistant Minister," said a statement from the President's office.

But speaking in Parliament, Dr Machage dared President Kibaki to sack him saying it would have been better if he was "was fully relinquished of his services so that he can focus fully on his services as a backbencher".

The defiant Kuria MP said his "only contract was with the people of Kuria constituency who elected him to Parliament".

Dr Machage, however, thanked the President for having confidence in him and allowing him to serve in five ministries as an assistant minister.

The Kuria MP is out on a Sh100,000 bail following charges on four counts of incitement to violence on Wednesday.

He, however, denied the charge before Chief Magistrate Gilbert Mutembei and will appear in court on June 21 for the mention of his case together with three others.

Stir hatred

Mr Machage is accused of uttering inciting words likely to stir ethnic hatred during the launch of the No secretariat on June 10.

He is accused of saying the words: "WaMaasai chenu hakiko Rift Valley, mashamba yenu yote yataenda kwa serikali." (You the Maasai, all your land in Rift Valley will be repossessed by the government).

On the second count, Dr Machage is accused of saying: "WaKikuyu wahame Rift Valley mahali kulimilikiwa na WaDorobo." (Kikuyus migrate from Rift Valley, your land was initially inhabited by the Dorobos).

And on the third count, he is said to have uttered the words: "Nairobi tokeni hii ni shamba la WaMaasai." (Nairobians, this land belongs to the Maasai, get out).

And lastly, Dr Machage is accused of having said: "WaJaluo wahame shamba la WaKuria, hata tutatumia nguvu." (Luos should move out of Kuria land, we shall even use force).

The Kuria MP and his counterparts Fred Kapondi (Mt Elgon) and Joshua Kutuny (Cherangany) were picked up by police on Tuesday over allegations of hate speech.

They all denied the charges and are out on bail.

Hate speech attracts a penalty of up to three years jail or a Sh1 million fine or both.

Defeat new law

The three MPs and politician Christine Nyagitha, who is also facing hate speech charges, belong to the No camp that is opposed to the proposed constitution.

The grouping led by Higher Education minister William Ruto and the Church is opposed to provisions on the proposed constitution touching on land, kadhi courts and abortion.

They have vowed to defeat the new law at the referendum set for August 4.

In their quest, the No team will have to contend with their rivals in the Yes camp, led by President Kibaki and PM Odinga, who are pushing for the ratification of the document at the vote.

A recent opinion poll, by research firm Synovate conducted in May, showed that while the Yes camp was still in the lead its support base had waned, with 57 per cent reporting in favour of the proposed law while 21pc said they will oppose it.

The Yes numbers had dropped by seven percentage points in a previous poll in April, which showed support for the document at 64pc. The No team had marshalled 17pc of Kenyans to its side, representing a four percentage point improvement.

Dr Machage maintained that he was still in the 'No' camp and that the Constitution was bad for the country.

Additional reporting by Alphonce Shiundu.