Francis Ole Kaparo urged to probe aspirant

National Cohesion and Integration Commission(NCIC) Chairman Francis Ole Kaparo

A Wiper Party candidate for Mwingi West parliamentary seat in Kitui County, Charles Ngusya Nguna, is in trouble over alleged inciting remarks made against the Jubilee Party on Monday.

A complaint filed with the Francis Kaparo-led National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) accuses Mr Nguna of threatening violence against Jubilee aspirants and their supporters in the region.

The statement was made at Musila Gardens in Mwingi Town a few days before President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto’s tour of the area on Friday.

The complaint was filed by a former electoral commissioner and lawyer Alfred Ndambiri on behalf of the Jubilee candidate for Mwingi West seat Mwende Mwinzi.

“The specific words that she is complaining about were uttered by Charles Ngusya Nguna in Kamba language that “when you see Jubilee here, cut it up and spit on it or what do you think? Do you agree? Jubilee should go home,” the complaint reads in part.

Mr Ndambiri argues that Nguna’s statements were directed at Ms Mwinzi since she is the one competing against him and by extension all Jubilee candidates and supporters.

The lawyer says the utterances amount to hate speech and a criminal offence. “The purpose of our letter therefore is to demand the immediate and urgent investigation into our client’s complaint with the intention of taking drastic steps against Nguna.

This action includes but is not limited to prosecuting him in court at the very earliest opportunity so as to eliminate the imminent danger to our client’s life,” the complaint to NCIC says.

The complaint has been copied to IEBC, Mwingi West OCPD and to Jubilee headquarters in Nairobi. Traditionally, candidates campaigning in opposition strongholds or opposition candidates campaigning in ruling party strongholds have faced intimidation, threats and violence.