Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria on Saturday, January 8, castigated Meru Senator Mithika Linuturi over remarks that he made while addressing a rally at Eldoret Sports Club.
In a statement, Kuria, who is undergoing treatment in Dubai, asked Deputy President William Ruto to reprimand Linturi over inciting remarks.
Linturi who addressed the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) rally was accused of making remarks bordering hate speech and incitement to violence.
Kuria argued that Linturi's statement in Rift Valley could open wounds, especially after the region was largely affected by the 2007 Post Election Violence (PEV).
"I'm a close friend of the Deputy President. However, I am far. If you are in Eldoret and near here tell him to rebuke his allies. It doesn't matter whether these remarks were said by Linturi or Oscar Sudi (Kapseret MP)," he wrote on his social media pages.
Suna East MP Junet Mohamed and Raila Odinga Secretariat Communications Director Dennis Onyango also castigated UDA.
"Utterance attributed to Senator Mithika Linturi in Eldoret is a serious assault to the peace and harmony to communities in Rift Valley. To profile persons on the basis of political or ethnic orientation is regrettable," Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui added.
Ruto, while addressing the crowd, urged all politicians to foster peace and also reprimanded other presidential aspirants who he claimed were out to control the Judiciary, the Parliament and oppress the citizen.
"Our competitors are saying that young people are only good for handouts. Shame on you," he stated.
In October 2021, the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) mapped out hotspots in the country ahead of August 9, 2022 polls.
The Commission further embarked on a nationwide civic education and advocacy for peace and unity prior to the General Election.
“We have also started to engage the youths so that they are not misused by the politicians to cause violence during political campaigns. The commission is probing issues that may interfere with peaceful elections.
“Our mandate is to investigate individuals, politicians and musicians spewing messages of incitement and hate speech before handing over the evidence to the Director of Public Prosecutions,” NCIC Deputy Director in charge of Civic Education and Advocacy Mr Killian Nyambu stated.
