Senator Muthama grilled by NCIC over alleged hate speech

Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama was Wednesday morning grilled by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) over alleged hate remarks he made in Busia County last week.

On Monday Muthama had refused to be interrogated by NCIC and did not record a statement, saying the hate speech allegations against him were fabricated.

Muthama is alleged to have made the hate remarks during a homecoming rally for Busia Women Representative Florence Mutua who was among the 8 MPs who were recently charged with hate speech.

Two days ago, the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) threatened boycott summons by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) if it does not withdraw summons on Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama unconditionally.

Led by Siaya Senator James Orengo, CORD accused the NCIC of overstepping its mandate of bringing cohesion and unifying Kenyans by acting as a prosecutor in alleged hate speech and incitement to violence cases.

Orengo further accused NCIC of being used by the Jubilee administration to oppress the opposition, something he argued heightens political animosity between Kenyans.

Last week, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Keriako Tobiko recommended that Muthama be interrogated and speedy investigations be conducted into offensive utterances he allegedly made less than two weeks ago during the homecoming of Busia Women Representative Florence Mutua.

In a statement to newsrooms, Tobiko acknowledged that he had received a file from the Director of the Criminal Inspectorate that had recommended Muthama be charged with the offence of Ethnic Contempt Contrary to Section 62(1) of the National Cohesion and Integration Act No. 12 of 2008.

Richard Bosire contributed to this story