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Babu arrested as ex-Nakuru MP charged with hate speech

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Embakasi East MP Paul Ongili. FILE PHOTO | NMG

Embakasi East MP Paul Ongili, popularly known as Babu Owino, was arrested Monday evening on the day former Nakuru Town MP David Manyara was charged with incitement to violence.

Mr Owino’s arrest came a day after he allegedly made derogatory remarks alleged to be targeting President Uhuru Kenyatta during an opposition rally in Kawangware, Nairobi, on Sunday.

The social media community had asked the police to arrest him over hate remarks against the presidency, sparking street protests in Kiambu and Githurai.

Mr Manyara was released on a bond of Sh300,000 after being charged in a Nakuru court.

Mr Manyara, currently the Nakuru Jubilee Party chairman, appeared before Chief magistrate Benard Mararo. He was accused of uttering words aimed at stirring ethnic violence between Kenyan communities.

READ: Gap in Kenyan law stokes hate speech on social media

He is said to have made the remarks on September 19 during protests against the Supreme Court verdict that nullified Mr Kenyatta’s victory in the August 8 presidential election.

“With the intent to stir up ethnic violence between the Kenyan communities, the accused used threatening words against a certain community...,” read the charge sheet.

Mr Manyara denied the charges and was released on Sh300,000 bond. The case will be mentioned tomorrow to set a hearing date. This is not the first time Mr Manyara has had a brush with the law.

In the aftermath of the 2002 General Election in which he lost his seat, he was arrested and charged  in connection with the murder of 10 people in three Nakuru estates. He was, however, released in 2004 for lack of evidence after 23 months in remand.