Raila is condoning hate mongers, says Duale

Majority Leader Aden Duale has castigated Coalition for Reforms and Democracy leader Raila Odinga for accompanying some of the leaders facing hate speech charges to homecoming events.

Mr Duale accused Mr Odinga of encouraging legislators from his coalition to continue propagating hate speech by attending events organised to celebrate their release last week.

The legislators, branded the Pangani Six, are a group of six male politicians who were arrested for alleged hate speech. They spent four days at Pangani police station.

Also arrested were two female lawmakers. They were all charged and released on bail.

Mr Odinga has been in Malindi, Kilifi County over the last two days accompanied by five of the Cord lawmakers who were charged.

They are Machakos Senator Johnson Muthama, Busia Woman Representative Florence Mutua and her Kilifi counterpart Aisha Jumwa and MPs Junet Mohammed (Suna East) and Timothy Bosire (Kitutu Masaba).

Mr Odinga said he had brought home Ms Jumwa after her arrest and prosecution for alleged hate speech.

But Mr Duale said the trip showed that the Cord leader was encouraging the vice.

“If you glorify hate mongers instead of condemning them, then you are also a hate monger,” he said.

He was speaking during the funeral of Mrs Hannah Wanjiru Matong’e, mother of Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua.

He also asked Kenyans to turn up in large numbers and give their views on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to the Parliamentary team.

“We will only consider the views of the people in general,” said Mr Duale. President Uhuru Kenyatta asked leaders to stop hate speech and unite.

“Leaders should check their tongues. If the world went back to the basic principles of life as epitomised in the Bible, then it would be a better place,” said the President.

In a rare tongue lashing, President Kenyatta condemned remarks by African Independent Pentecostal Church of Kenya Archbishop John Mugecha.

In his sermon at the funeral service, the cleric questioned why Mr Kinyua had not tarmacked roads leading to his home in Tetu yet he had served in government for a long time.

“Mr Kinyua is one of the most honest public servants and it is not fair to attack him. On matters of development including roads, please ask me, not him,” said the visibly agitated President.