Rift Valley leaders want Mandago, two MPs arrested over hate talk
From left atop vehicles: Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago and MPs Alfred Keter (Nandi Hills) and Oscar Sudi (Kapseret) in a campaign rally in Eldoret on April 19, 2017. The Rift Valley Council of Elders and other North Rift leaders have called for the arrest of the three for allegedly inciting locals against certain communities living in Uasin Gishu. PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Rift Valley Council of Elders chairman Gilbert Kabage gave Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery a seven-day ultimatum to arrest the three leaders and have them prosecuted.
- Mandago, Sudi and Keter have been accused of inciting locals against certain communities residing in Uasin Gishu.
- The calls for the arrest of the three politicians have been supported by the People’s Power Watch lobby group.
Some leaders from the Rift Valley have called for the immediate arrest of Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago and two lawmakers for alleged incitement and spewing of hate speech.
Led by Rift Valley Council of Elders chairman Gilbert Kabage, the leaders have urged the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) to move swiftly and have the politicians prosecuted.
Governor Mandago and the two MPs - Oscar Sudi (Kapseret) and Alfred Keter (Nandi Hills) - have been accused of inciting locals against certain communities residing in Uasin Gishu.
“We call upon the government to immediately arrest the governor and the two MPs for inciting locals against some communities.
"NCIC should use the politicians as an example to others as the country gears towards the August 8 general election,” said Mr Kabage.
ULTIMATUM
Mr Kabage further gave Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery a seven-day ultimatum to arrest the three leaders and have them prosecuted.
“We want to give Mr Nkaissery seven days to arrest the three over the incitement,” said Mr Kabage.
Elders’ council secretary Peter Charagu also urged the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to punish politicians breaking the electoral code of conduct.
“IEBC should bar politicians propagating hate speech and inciting the electorate to violence. We need peaceful elections in this country,” added Mr Charagu.
REIN IN HATE MONGERS
The calls for the arrest of the three politicians have been supported by People’s Power Watch lobby group chairman Jesse Karanja.
Mr Karanja has urged Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet, Mr Nkaissery and other relevant agencies to intervene and rein in hate-mongers ahead of the August polls.
“The leaders should be [prevented] from causing violence especially at this time of elections. They should not be spared,” said Mr Karanja.
The North Rift was one of the regions that experienced first-hand the devastating effects of the 2007/2008 post-election violence in which more than 1,000 people lost their lives and thousands others were displaced.
