Narok Senator Ledama ole Kina has finally secured his freedom after parting with Ksh100,000 via M-Pesa in an incitement case against him.
The senator was compelled to make the bail payment after Chief Magistrate Martha Mutuku dismissed the application that barred him from being prosecuted for incitement.
The judge noted that the application lacked merit despite the senator's argument that the prosecution had acted in a discriminatory manner when it decided to press charges against him.
Ledama pleaded not guilty to the charge and was released on a Ksh100,000 cash bail with an alternative of Ksh200,000 bond.
In a statement, the outspoken lawmaker expressed a sigh of relief explaining that he was finally going to concentrate on his official duties after settling the bail.
"I love technology! I just paid my cash bail of 100k for the hate speech case. Now heading to the Senate to do my work," he stated.
Ledama had been summoned over remarks he made while appearing on Citizen TV's JKLive show aired on February 19, 2020.
The court papers, at the time, had indicated that Ledama's sentiments were intended to incite feelings of discrimination against non-Maasai communities living in Narok County based on their ethnicity.
Ledama had weighed in on the sensitive issue of Maasai land, during the Narok BBI rally which left many angered.
"I think one of the biggest priorities for the Maasai is land-use policies. We are people who have been marginalised for a very long time. We are very hospitable and welcoming, so people come into our area, take our land and subdivide it.
"This is our land. Any visitor is welcome to do business. But if today I go to Kiambu, I will be welcome to do business, but I cannot run for office there. If one buys agricultural land, it remains agricultural land. He cannot subdivide and bring his tribesmen or his friends there because of the scarcity of resources," Ledama had stated.
Koinange, during the interview, had stepped in and dismissed Ole Kina's sentiments as tribalistic, and warned that the path being taken by the senator was to the detriment of Kenyans.
The vocal senator was then arrested on February 25, 2020, while he was on his way out of Royal Media Services after an interview, after which he was taken to the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) to record a statement.
Ledama had, however, argued that it was within his mandate as the Senator of the Narok County to articulate the issues affecting the area residents without fear.
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