Prosecute president Kenyatta for hate speech Odinga

Nominated MP Dr Oburu Odinga has accused National Cohesion and Integration Commission Chairman Francis Ole Kaparo of applying the law on hate speech selectively.

Mr Oginga questioned why Kaparo took no action against President Uhuru Kenyatta when he (the president) angrily engaged in an altercation with Turkana Governor Josephat Nanok during his recent tour of Turkana County.

He wondered why the NCIC excused the president despite having made inflammatory statements against the Turkana community and its leadership in totality, yet it has always been in the forefront to summon and prosecute leaders from the opposition whenever they make utterances which are perceived to be hate speech.

“When you go to Turkana nd abuse the people including calling them stupid… what Uhuru said was actually hate speech. And then Kaparo stands up and says excuse the president because he was annoyed,” he remarked.

The legislator made the remarks during the installation of Siaya Governor Cornel Rasanga as a Luo elder at Boro Primary School grounds in Alego/Usonga Constituency where he admonished the NCIC chairman claiming that he was serving the interest of the Jubilee Coalition.

He lamented that whereas the NCIC should be working independently, the chairman treated President Kenyatta’s issue very lightly as compared to those of other leaders who have earlier been arrested and prosecuted.

“When we speak and we are charged in court with hate speech, we also talk with a lot of annoyance that’s why we say what we say and then people are taken to court. But the words of Uhuru Kenyatta are taken very lightly by Kaparo,” he added.

Dr Oburu has now warned that any further prosecution of any Kenyan over hate speech allegations by the Kaparo Commission after President Kenyatta was excused shall be regarded as abuse of office by NCIC.

“He is not working independently and we want to admonish him for that,” he noted.

The ceremony was also attended by Siaya Deputy Governor Wilson Ouma Onyango, former MPs Sammy Weya (Alego/Usonga) and Joe Donde (Gem), elected and aspiring political leaders and a section of professionals from Alego/Usonga constituency among other dignitaries.