Court adjourns Kuria hate case as he falls sick

What you need to know:

  • Mr Mungatana said the politician was hospitalised on Thursday, a day after Chief Magistrate Daniel Ogembo directed that he be detained pending the determination of his bail terms.
  • Videos uploaded on Youtube show the controversial politician urging a gathering “not to restrict themselves to slashing overgrowth with their pangas but as his militia, slash those opposed to NYS projects.”
  • The charge particulars against Mr Kuria state in Kisawahili: “Huyo mtu wa vitendawili alisema NYS ni militia ya Jubilee. Hapa Gatundu nyinyi ni militia yangu. Hakuna mchezo. Kata mtu kama mnataka.

A hate speech case facing Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria before a criminal court in Nairobi was adjourned on Tuesday after it emerged that he fell seriously sick while in police custody.

Mr Kuria had been detained at the Kilimani police station at the behest of a magistrate who has since released him on bail in a separate case of incitement to violence.

He had been admitted to the Karen Hospital last Thursday, his lawyer Danson Mungatana told the trial court.

The lawyer said Mr Kuria was discharged on Sunday but given a “sick off” for the next two weeks after which his health condition will be re-evaluated.

Mr Kuria has denied posting offensive messages on his Facebook page linking the Luo community to the Gikomba terrorist attacks.

Mr Mungatana said the politician was hospitalised on Thursday, a day after Chief Magistrate Daniel Ogembo directed that he be detained pending the determination of his bail terms.

He presented a medical document in court which the prosecution did not raise any objection about.

The MP was on Wednesday last week charged with calling on his constituents to arm themselves with machetes and “cut” those opposed to National Youth Service initiatives.

He has since been released on a Sh1 million cash bail.

Videos uploaded on Youtube show the controversial politician urging a gathering “not to restrict themselves to slashing overgrowth with their pangas but as his militia, slash those opposed to NYS projects.”

The charge particulars against Mr Kuria state in Kisawahili: “Huyo mtu wa vitendawili alisema NYS ni militia ya Jubilee. Hapa Gatundu nyinyi ni militia yangu. Hakuna mchezo. Kata mtu kama mnataka.

On Tuesday Dr Leornard Maingi told the trail court that he was not opposed to the request for adjournment.

The trial was put off to January 12, 2016.