GG denies incitement to violence charge

Mr Godfrey Gitahi Kariuki was on Wednesday charged with incitement to violence. The former Cabinet minister denied the charges and was freed by Mombasa senior principal magistrate Lillian Mutende on bond.

He is alleged to have said, without lawful excuse, that he would mobilise and bring together Mungiki sect youths, Kaya Bombo, Bagdad group, Kalenjin warriors, Sabaot Land Defence Force, Chinkororo and Jeshi la Mzee to overthrow the government.

Cause unrest

It is alleged that what he said indicated that it was desirable to cause unrest in the country, an act which was calculated to lead to destruction of property and cause deaths. The court heard that the offence was committed on April 19, 2008 at Wogect centre PCEA church Makupa in Mombasa.

Prior to taking plea, Mr Kariuki’s lawyer, Mr Evans Monari, told the court that his client was in court pursuant to the warrant of arrest issued on Monday. “We learnt about it through the Press and made immediate effort to come to court,” said Mr Monari, adding that they went to police and recorded statements before making themselves available in court.

Mr Monari made an application to have the warrant of arrest issued against Mr Kariuki lifted, terming him a senior citizen who obeyed the law. He also applied to have him granted bond.

“Mr Kariuki is aged over 72, he cannot abscond court,” said Mr Monari. Prosecutor Dominic Mate did not object to the bond application. He said, however, that the bond should be commensurate with the offence.

Speed up

Ms Mutende lifted the warrant of arrest and granted Mr Kariuki a Sh200,000 bond with a surety in similar amount or an alternative of Sh100,000 cash bail.

Mr Monari made an application seeking to be granted witness statements in the next 15 days to speed up preparations for the case. The case will be heard on July 23.