Hate speech: Police chief Joseph Boinnet cracks whip on six MPs Share this story: Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria (left). PHOTO: FILE NAIROBI: The country’s hate-speech and incitement watchdogs Monday summoned six MPs over inflammatory remarks. The authorities were firm that unchecked political rhetoric would spark violence ahead of the next General Election. Those caught in the net of Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet and the chairman of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission, Integration Commission Chairman Francis ole Kaparo are three ruling Jubilee Coalition MPs, and three from the Opposition. The CORD legislators got themselves in trouble when they went overboard as they castigated the Jubilee lawmakers for threatening the life of their party leader, Raila Odinga. READ MORE Nakuru lawmakers defend MP from hate claims Police probe Kuria, Waititu over inflammatory remarks Raila's team pushes demos to Thursday as Jubilee digs in Mr Boinnet directed Moses Kuria (Gatundu South), Kimani Ngunjiri (Bahati), Ferdinand Waititu (Kabete), Aisha Jumwa (Kilifi), Junet Mohammed (Suna East) and Timothy Bosire (Kitutu Masaba) to present themselves at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations headquarters “immediately”. “They are supposed to appear before the DCI immediately because a probe into hate speech has been opened for now,” said Boinnet. Police sources said Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama was also wanted for grilling. The authorities swung into action after a public outrage following video clips that went viral online, and which were shared on mobile platform WhatsApp showing Mr Kuria and Mr Waititu issuing threats against a certain community and Opposition leader Raila Odinga. “...While this falls under the Penal Code to be handled by the police as it is a death threat, we note that the statement is careless, unfortunate and a threat to national cohesion,” Mr Kaparo told The Standard in an interview. In the video, Kuria is seen and heard talking against Raila, while Waititu in another clip is heard threatening the community with circumcision. Kuria made the remarks on Sunday at a thanksgiving rally for a vernacular radio station presenter held at the Safaricom indoor stadium, Kasarani. The video clips immediately went viral on social media, with majority of Kenyans calling for Kuria’s arrest. Already, Kuria and Waititu are facing incitement charges in court. Waititu was charged over remarks made to the Maasai community when he was Embakasi MP. VIDEO CLIPS “It is wrong and that is why we have launched the probe to get to the bottom of it. We have the video, which we are reviewing for action,” said Boinnet.

NAIROBI: The country’s hate-speech and incitement watchdogs Monday summoned six MPs over inflammatory remarks.
The authorities were firm that unchecked political rhetoric would spark violence ahead of the next General Election. Those caught in the net of Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet and the chairman of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission,
Integration Commission Chairman Francis ole Kaparo are three ruling Jubilee Coalition MPs, and three from the Opposition.
The CORD legislators got themselves in trouble when they went overboard as they castigated the Jubilee lawmakers for threatening the life of their party leader, Raila Odinga.
Mr Boinnet directed Moses Kuria (Gatundu South), Kimani Ngunjiri (Bahati), Ferdinand Waititu (Kabete), Aisha Jumwa (Kilifi), Junet Mohammed (Suna East) and Timothy Bosire (Kitutu Masaba) to present themselves at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations headquarters “immediately”.
“They are supposed to appear before the DCI immediately because a probe into hate speech has been opened for now,” said Boinnet.
Police sources said Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama was also wanted for grilling.