Activist denies inciting communities to violence

A human rights activist was on Friday accused of inciting wananchi to violence and disobedience of the law.

Mr Kennedy Wanjala Wafula, the executive director of the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, denied the charges against him in an Eldoret court.

Mr Wafula, who was represented by lawyers David Rioba Omboto and John Nyandoro, was charged with claiming on October 9, that “ethnic communities are arming themselves with firearms in Uasin Gishu”.

The court heard that the words implied it was desirable for the ethnic communities in the greater Uasin Gishu District to arm themselves, an act calculated to cause public alarm, animosity and loss of life.

Mr Wafula, senior resident magistrate David Kemei was told, said and published reports that residents in the Rift Valley were arming themselves with guns in preparation for acts of violence come the 2012 General Election.

He was also accused of saying that night meetings were taking place in the larger Uasin Gishu and Trans Nzoia with the aim of collecting money to buy guns.

The court granted him a bond of Sh100,000 with two sureties in the same amount.

Stiff bond terms

Prosecutor Basil Ekisa said the accused had cooperated with the police during the investigations, which were now complete.

“However, he had been underground before he was arrested and the investigating officer has asked me to apply for stiff bond or bail terms,” he said.

Mr Wafula was brought to court after a warrant of arrest was issued for him but the court cancelled it after the prosecutor said it was issued erroneously.