Senior police officer summoned in hate speech case against Cord MPs

From Left, Busia Woman Representative Florence Mutua, Suna East MP Junet Mohamed, Kilifi Woman Representative Aisha Jumwa and Kitutu Masaba MP Timothy Bosire in a Nairobi court on August 25, 2016. PHOTO | PAUL WAWERU |

What you need to know:

  • Defence lawyers have not been supplied with copies of witness statements and documentary evidence that the prosecution will be relying on.
  • She also directed the prosecution to supply the defence with copies of the documents within seven days.

A Nairobi court has summoned Serious Crimes Unit head John Kariuki after the hearing of a hate speech case against four Cord lawmakers failed to start over witness statements.

Proceedings could not continue Thursday after it emerged that defence lawyers had not been supplied with copies of witness statements and documentary evidence that the prosecution will be relying on.

Lawyers representing the two MPs and two woman representatives, led by James Orengo, told the court that they have gone to the Kilimani and Pangani police stations as well as the Directorate of Criminal Investigations headquarters to get the statements without success.

Trial magistrate Martha Mutuku summoned Mr Kariuki to shed light on who headed the investigations “as he or she may be the contact person to supply the crucial documentation.”

She also directed the prosecution to supply the defence with copies of the documents within seven days

The politicians on trial are Junet Mohamed (Suna East), Timothy Bosire (Kitutu Masaba), Florence Mutua (Busia) and Aisha Jumwa (Kilifi).

The case will be mentioned on September 1.