Kikuyu elders condemn politicians hate speech

The Kikuyu Council of Elders has expressed concern over the vulgar language being used by some politicians in public rallies.

Speaking during a ceremony meant to anoint another key elder to the council in Ol-Joro Orok area of Nyandarua County, the elders said there was need for leaders to ensure decorum while addressing public meetings.

Ndung’u Gaithuma, the council’s chairman, said it was painful to see leaders making reckless statements and called on Kenyans to shun such behavior.

Reacting to recent remarks by Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama against President Uhuru Kenyatta, the chairman cautioned politicians against use of abusive language to avoid inciting citizens to violence.

Elder Kariuki Kabue, who heads the Nyeri branch of the council, noted that the country was experiencing leadership challenges and called for dialogue to help address them.

He cited the ongoing teachers’ strike as a major challenge facing the country and called on leaders and the parties involved to speak to each other in order to reach an amicable solution.

His Nakuru counterpart, Kariko Mwangi, said national issues should be addressed by the relevant authorities and with sober minds, adding that there was no need to trivialize issues that could be addressed amicably.

Senator Muthama on Wednesday during a CORD rally that was held in solidarity with the striking teachers, allegedly attacked President Uhuru Kenyatta and CS Anne Waiguru verbally, an action that elicited mixed reactions from Jubilee.

The senator, who is known for making blunt remarks against the Kenyatta administration, was later investigated for five counts, including pronouncements that call for unconstitutional change of government and inciting Kenyans to violence.

Muthama is said to have termed Waiguru as President Kenyatta’s favorite CS despite being embroiled in graft allegations in the National Youth Service where over Ksh700 million was lost through questionable procurement processes.

Muthama was also accused of alleging that CS Waiguru has an affair with the head of state and called for her removal from office.

On Friday, over 500 protesters carrying placards with anti-Muthama slogans had convened at Uhuru Park grounds before proceeding to Parliament to pressure the Senate and National Assembly to eject him on grounds that he had flouted Chapter Six of the Constitution of Kenya 2010 on integrity.

The women accused Senator Muthama of undermining them by accusing Devolution and Planning Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru of gross misconduct and abuse of office.

Report by Peter Mwangi/written by Jemimah Gathoni