Mwakwere off the hook, but he’ll be under watch

By Ngumbao Kithi and Patrick Beja

Environment Minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere will be under surveillance for the next year by a human rights organisation to ensure he does not engage in hate speech.

This is part of the concessions the Matuga MP had to consent to as part of the deal that saw a court case against him withdrawn.

If the case had proceeded to trial, Mwakwere would have been kicked out of Cabinet until it was concluded.

It would have been the second time Mwakwere was leaving Cabinet since 2008 since he had to quit after the High Court nullified his election.

What is expected of him

According to the agreement signed by Mwakwere and Muhuri’s Executive Director Hussein Khalid, the minister must desist from making any form of hate speech in future.

Khalid said the stringent conditions imposed on the minister in the agreement are intended to “serve as an example to others”.

Among other demands the agreement compels Mwakere to “agree to be monitored by Muhuri for 12 months,” and to publicly preach peace and reconciliation, according to an agreement signed after a week of negotiations.

Last Saturday Mwakwere admitted uttering racially charged remarks in July 2010.

Speaking to the press in Mombasa, a humbled Mwakwere declared that “these are my apologies for the remarks I made during the by elections in Matuga in 2010” and proceeded to heap praise on the human rights agency — Muslims for Human Rights —Muhuri- that sparked his legal troubles of the remarks describing it as “an esteemed organisation fighting for human rights at the coast region and the republic of Kenya as a whole.”

The decision to accept Mwakwere’s apology is said to have caused a split within Muhuri’s board with some members arguing that signing the agreement could tarnish the organisation’s standing.