NCIC summons MP Moses Kuria over Raila remarks

The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has summoned Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria over inflammatory remarks against CORD leader Raila Odinga.

In a press briefing on Monday, NCIC chair Francis ole Kaparo said that though they have no ability to stop the spread of hate speech on social media, they will crack down on anyone using the platform to post inciting remarks.

“We do not have the ability to shut down social media and I would not, in any way, curtail the media in whatever form. But we need the public to be cautious of what they post on social media to ensure they do not spread hate,” he said.

Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri has also been summoned over hate speech.

In an address delivered in vernacular, Kuria said: “No emenyerere, ona mbembe no arie, tutigutorio thinaine ni mundu umue. Na arie mbembe tumuthike jumatatu  iria ingi, maikie mahiga wiki imwe na Kenya ithii na mbere . Okoruo ni haro me kwenda niyo me kuona. Mwire raila ona mbembe no arie na thii ihore na tuthii na no menda thayu moke tuarie tuikare wega IEBC yenda guthii ithii okoruo tii uguo mathii ma kiumaga.”

“…he (Raila) should be careful because he can still bite the bullet. We won’t be troubled by one person forever. He can as well bite the bullet and we bury him next Monday. His protesters will throw stones for just one week and life continues.”

Kuria is not new to allegations of hate speech. In November last year at Gatundu South Kuria was captured on camera allegedly inciting the youth to take up pangas and slash all those opposed to the National Youth Service (NYS) project.

Speaking in reference to CORD leader Raila Odinga’s allegations of corruption at the NYS, Kuria claimed that the Opposition was out to frustrate the project, calling on Gatundu youth to defend it.

The utterances led to the arrest of Kuria after Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Keriako Tobiko ordered that he faces charges of incitement to violence.

@benjaminwafula