Mutahi Ngunyi charged with hate speech

Mutahi Ngunyi

Political analyst Mutahi Ngunyi was Monday charged with four counts of ethnic contempt and hate speech.

Mr Ngunyi denied the charges and was released on a Sh200,000 cash bail or a Sh500,000 bond with one surety of a similar amount.

Ngunyi took the plea before Milimani Chief Magistrate Daniel Ogembo after Justice Joseph Onguto dismissed his bid to stop Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko from charging him with hate speech.

Ngunyi's charges are in relation to messages he allegedly posted on his Twitter account about Coalition for Reforms and Democracy leader Raila Odinga and the Luo community.

The case against Mr Ngunyi follows a complaint by Apollo Mboya who represents the Law Society of Kenya at the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC).

While dismissing Ngunyi's application in which he sought to stop his prosecution, Justice Onguto ruled that Ngunyi had not demonstrated to the court how his rights would be violated once he is charged.

"The applicant ought to have demonstrated exceptional circumstances in which this court could intervene and issue the orders sought. I therefore decline to issue the temporary orders sought by the applicant," Justice Onguto said in his ruling.

Ngunyi had claimed that NCIC did not investigate the matter. Justice Onguto disagreed with Ngunyi's assertions that it was unlawful for Tobiko to issue a press release recommending that he be charged with ethnic contempt.