CORD demands arrest of Jubilee lawmakers over utterances

CORD MPs from left: Florence Mutua (Busia), Aisha Jumwa (Kilifi), Junet Mohammed (Suna East) and Timothy Bosire (Kitutu Masaba) at a press briefing Monday. [PHOTO: DAVID GICHURU/STANDARD

NAIROBI: The Opposition is now demanding for the arrest and prosecution of three MPs and a governor over hate speech.

The Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) lawmakers yesterday threatened to storm Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet's office on Thursday should he fail to arrest the Jubilee lawmakers by today for making ethnically-charged remarks and calling for the assassination of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

They want the police to immediately arrest Nakuru Governor Kinuthia Mbugua, MPs Moses Kuria (Gatundu South), Ferdinand Waititu (Kabete) and Kimani Ngunjiri (Bahati).

Addressing a press conference in Nairobi at Raila's Capitol Hill offices, CORD MPs condemned Mbugua and Ngunjiri for calling for the eviction of certain communities that support the Opposition from Nakuru.

"We are here to condemn the recent primitive, divisive and reckless acts that have put lawlessness, intolerance and impunity at the centre of poor politics again as we race to the 2017 elections," said a statement read by Kitutu Masaba MP Timothy Bosire.

CORD called on President Uhuru Kenyatta to rein in Jubilee leaders, stating that his silence could be interpreted that he supports them.

And the leaders demanded that Kuria who is among 11 politicians who will represent Jubilee in talks on the fate of IEBC be replaced.

"Moses Kuria is not just an MP. He is President Kenyatta's MP. Kuria is also supposed to be negotiator seconded by the President to the envisaged talks on the future of IEBC," said Bosire.

The Opposition leaders further called for arrest of MPs Dennis Waweru (Dagoretti South) and Maina Kamanda (Starehe) and Margret Wanjiru for leading protesters to Raila's office last week.

Junet Mohamed (Suna East) lashed out at the National Cohesion and Integration Commission, saying its chairman Francis ole Kaparo was still having political hangovers.

He also expressed his misgivings against IG Boinnet for "taking instructions from the Office of the President" despite his office being independent.

Others present at the conference were Woman Representatives Aisha Jumwa (Kilifi) and Florence Mutua (Busia).