Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki on Thursday, June 15, warned that he would not spare anyone inciting the public to violence, including politicians allied to President William Ruto's United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Party.
Speaking at a gathering of the Lamu Security and Intelligence Committees in Witu, the Cabinet Secretary (CS) issued a stern warning that if found guilty, an MP and seven UDA-affiliated Members of County Assembly (MCAs) who allegedly incited violence in Kericho would face imprisonment.
He warned that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) would promptly press charges against the politicians, ensuring their expeditious arraignment in court.
“The leaders who were inciting violence in Kericho were UDA members and they had to record statements with the police.
“If we find enough evidence against them, we will take them to court. We must build a nation that is peaceful and accountable to the law,” he stated.
Additionally, Kindiki warned that leaders allied to the Azimio Coalition who provoked others to violence will also face the law.
"Political, religious, and community leaders who are inciting members of the public to engage in acts of violence and destruction of property in the guise of resolving long-standing issues will be dealt with firmly.
"Even those on the other political side will not be spared. We do not care who you are," Kindiki added.
According to Kindiki, many political leaders had taken to social media and vernacular radio stations to air views that were increasingly inciting people to violence.
He added that police officers were working with communities to gather information on incitement as a proactive measure to apprehend leaders who clandestinely held private meetings within these communities.
“I have put on notice people who are inciting the public to violence pretending that they are helping in the resolution of historical injustices. The government will resolve historical injustices in a consultative and participatory manner.
Seven UDA politicians were on June 5 interrogated by the DCI over the invasion of James Finlay's farm and Ekaterra Plc after establishing that the demonstrations were politically instigated.
Some of the politicians and activists who appeared at the DCI headquarters include; Kapsoit MCA Paul Chirchir, Chaik MCA Mathew Korir, Ainamoi MP Benjamin Langat, and political activist Gilbert Kipkoech among others.
