Another ODM MP arrested over incitement to violence

Laikipia North Member of Parliament, Mathew Lempurkel, has been arrested in Nanyuki over alleged inciting remarks on land issues in Laikipia County.

Confirming the incident, Laikipia County Commander, Simon Kipkeu, said that the MP was captured on video uttering inciting remarks on land issues, in a region where conflict between herders and ranch owners over grazing of their livestock has led to attacks and killings.

It is believed that Lempurkel incited locals to forcefully invade private ranches and graze their livestock during a campaign rally on Thursday, July 20.

But an MCA aspirant from the county, Yoakim Kuraru, has strongly dismissed the allegation leveled against the ODM MP, saying that the message was misinterpreted.

“One of the local newspaper reporters translated the opposite of what the MP said. What Lempurkel said and what was written were totally different,” said Kuraru.

The MP is being held at Naro Moru Police Station in Laikipia for questioning, with Laikipia Central OCPD, Ben Changulo, saying that the controversial legislator will be arraigned in court on Monday, July 24 to face the said charges.

This is not the first time Lempurkel has been arrested for incitement.

March this year, he was arrested for allegedly invading private ranches in his constituency.