Arrest Raila over Kajiado remarks, Rift Valley elders say

Pressure continues to mount on Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery to have National Super Alliance (Nasa) flag-bearer Raila Odinga arrested for allegedly making inflammatory remarks.

The Rift Valley Council of Elders has urged Mr Nkaissery and police Inspector-General Joseph Boinnet to arrest Mr Odinga and prosecute him over the remarks.

“We want to see Mr Odinga arrested to serve as an example to other politicians as the country heads to the August 8 General Election.

"He is just like any (other) politician and should observe the electoral code of conduct,” said Gilbert Kabage, the council chairman in Nakuru town.

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Mr Kabage, who was flanked by council secretary Peter Charagu, said the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) should take swift action against the opposition leader.

“The NCIC and the DPP claiming that they are investigating Mr Odinga’s remarks is a joke. He was heard and recorded spewing hate speech,” said Mr Charagu.

Mr Odinga is under fire from Jubilee leaders and supporters over remarks he made in Kajiado.

Mr Nkaissery has already said the Nasa leader will be investigated over the remarks.

Mr Odinga has denied making inflammatory remarks, saying he “talked about land in the context of poverty alleviation and the Jubilee government stands accused of depriving the people of Kajiado to the point of selling their land for a song.”

He said the theme of his campaign in the county centred on fighting abject poverty, which he said was deeply entrenched and had forced the Maasai community to sell land on the cheap.