John Gichiri Njau Arrested over Ikamba Song

John Gichiri Njau (Waharaka), one of the artists behind the hateful Kikuyu song 'Ikamba' has been arrested by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC).

Reports by the NCIC indicate that the artist will be arraigned at Milimani Court on Monday as the Commission pursues his fellow musician.

The song attributed to Isaiah Ndungu featuring Njau Waharaka caused uproar across the social media due to its derogatory message and hateful words that were allegedly directed to the Kamba community.

[caption caption="Lorry burnt by youth for ferrying charcoal"][/caption]

The song was released shortly after a feud arose following the ban on charcoal burning and sand harvesting by Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu, a move that was later followed by Tana River and Kilifi counties.

The song was largely condemned by several leaders including the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) CEO, Ezekiel Mutua who suspended the song from being played on air.

Governors Alfred Mutua (Machakos) and Mutahi Kahiga (Nyeri) jointly condemned the song for its perpetuation of negative ethnicity.

On his part, Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Junior wrote to the Director of Public Prosecutions demanding the arrest of the two artists for demeaning the Kamba community.

In the ensuing feud following the ban, angry Kitui residents torched a lorry ferrying charcoal to Nairobi.

Days later, Kiambu residents caused a huge traffic snarl-up along Nairobi-Nakuru Highway after deflating tires in a retaliatory protest.

[caption caption="Governors Mutua (Machakos) and Kahiga (Nyeri) "][/caption]

Speaking during a TV interview shortly after, NCIC Chief Executive (CEO) Hassan Mohammed expressed concerns that the commission was unable to make significant prosecutions of offenders due to lack of sufficient evidence.

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