More leaders accused of hate speech

Another Cabinet minister is set to be prosecuted over hate speech.

Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko on Sunday said that he had recommended the prosecution of the Nairobi Metropolitan Development Minister Jamleck Kamau and Limuru MP Peter Mwathi.

However, Mr Tobiko rejected the charges against Makadara MP Gideon Mbuvi, saying he did not find sufficient evidence incriminate the legislator.

He said that as suggested by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), he had recommended that the two be charged with hate speech.

“Yes, I have approved their prosecution,” Mr Tobiko told the Nation.

Both Mr Kamau and Mr Mwathi are alleged to have said that Kikuyus who did not support Uhuru Kenyatta’s presidential bid faced ill health at a public rally in Limuru on February 19.

However, Mr Kamau on Sunday said that he had never been summoned either by the police or the NCIC over the allegations.

He added that he was not aware of the charges that Mr Tobiko had recommended against him.

“I will follow the law if charged,” he told journalists in Nairobi.

NCIC chairman Mzalendo Kibunjia also told the Nation on phone that his office had only forwarded the files for Mr Mbuvi and Mr Mwathi.

“I am not aware of the case against Hon Jamleck Kamau,” he said.

Mr Kamau said that he only repeated what the Prime Minister Raila Odinga said in Meru in 2007, when he was pelted with stones during his visit.

The PM warned that Merus would be crying when the rest of Kenyans would be celebrating.

“In my heart and mind I know there is no incitement. Kenyans know me very well,” he said.

Former Mathioya MP Joseph Kamotho had asked the NCIC to charge Mr Mwathi with hate speech.

However, Mr Mwathi on February 24 issued a statement, saying he only said that all leaders in central Kenya should agree to support Mr Kenyatta’s bid as he was ahead of the rest in popularity.

“I referred by name to Hon Peter Kenneth and Hon Martha Karua... At no time did I refer to the health status of any leader, let alone Hon Karume and Hon Kamotho,” he said then.

Ironically, during the burial of the police pilot Nancy Gituanja, who died in the helicopter crash that also killed Internal Security minister George Saitoti and four others, Mr Kamau urged police boss Mathew Iteere to arrest those spreading hate speech and not to spare the big fish.

“I will support the police commissioner on arresting politicians found spreading hate speech during rallies because what Kenyans need is peace,” he said.

The minister echoed Mr Iteere’s earlier warning to politicians and illegal groups against inciting the public during election campaigns. Police recently acquired equipment to record speeches at rallies.

Environment minister Chirau Mwakwere is already facing hate speech charges. His case failed to kick off last week.