Former Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama, who was arrested on Monday over inflammatory remarks, has been released from police detention.
The NASA politician was arraigned in court where he denied incitement to violence charges levelled against him. He was released on a Sh500,000 bond or Sh300,000 cash bail.
The charge sheet indicated, the former Senator said: "Mimi nataka kumwambia na naalika Uhuru Kenyatta na mheshimiwa William Ruto pale Uhuru Park bila askari na mimi na Orengo tuvae gloves tukutane Uhuru Park tuonyeshe kilicho nyoa kanga manyoa ; unatisha Raila kama nani ."
Loosely translated to: "I want to tell and invite Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto to Uhuru Park without any police officers. Orengo and I will put on gloves and meet them at Uhuru Park and teach them a lesson. Who are you to threaten Raila".
According to the authorities, however, Muthama's words meant "it might have been desirable to engage in a physical fight which was calculated to bring death and physical injury to persons".
The said remarks were apparently made on 10th September 2017 at Isinya Town in Kajiado County.
The hearing of his case has been set for January 23, 2018.
The former Senator was arrested at Kangundo on Monday at his home. His arrest came an hour after Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria was also arrested over allegations of hate speech.
Kuria pleaded not guilty to the incitement charge and was released on a Sh500,000 bond or cash bail of Sh200,000. The hearing of his case was set for January 21, 2018.
