Isiolo member of county assembly, 2 county officials charged with incitement to violence

An Isiolo member of county assembly and two senior officials of the county government have been charged with incitement before a local court.

Moses Kithinji, MCA for Bulapesa ward (pictured), Hudson Kinyua, chief officer for Trade and Witherford Mwirigi, Bulapesa ward administrator, appeared before Chief Magistrate Samuel Mungai yesterday charged with incitement to violence.

The three are accused, jointly with others who were not before the court, of uttering words, which made members of the public destroy property within Isiolo Township last Friday.

They are alleged to have said: ''Burn (sic) the road and destroy the property so that the Government can hear our grievances."

The accused, who were represented by lawyer Mbaabu Inoti, did not enter plea after the prosecution said that more charges could be preferred against them.

The prosecution requested that they be remanded at Isiolo Police Station for a week pending completion of investigations.

However, Mr Inoti requested that they be released on bail, saying the offence is bailable.

The magistrate granted them a bond of Sh50,000 or a cash bail of Sh30,000 and ordered that they report to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations on Friday. They paid the bail.

The case will be mentioned on November 17. Hearing will start on December 3.

On Monday, 11 people, mostly youth appeared before Isiolo Senior Resident Magistrate Joan Irura charged with taking part in a riot last Friday in Isiolo town.

The accused who were unrepresented were denied bond with the prosecution saying that the town was still tense and the accused could repeat the offence.

They were remanded in custody until November 16 when a hearing date will be fixed.