Nairobi News

Police have said they have enough evidence to charge Machakos Senator Johnson Muthama with making defamatory remarks against President Uhuru Kenyatta.

According to the investigators, Mr Muthama should be arrested and held in custody over the words he uttered at an opposition rally at Uhuru Park, Nairobi, on Wednesday last week.

His file is one of the five sent to Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko, recommending the charging of individuals “who utter statements that amount to incitement and hate speech”.

Also recommended for prosecution is political consultant Mutahi Ngunyi and a Mr Japheth Thuranira.

Mr Muthama is expected to be charged alongside Mr Thuranira for making defamatory remarks aimed at President Kenyatta and Devolution and Planning Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru.

FILES RECEIVED

Mr Tobiko said he had received the files from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, National Cohesion and Integration Commission and his office.

He said the investigators had found sufficient evidence to charge Mr Muthama and Mr Thuranira with incitement.

“I will study the files and make a decision in the next few days,” he said.

On Wednesday, Mr Muthama presented himself to the cohesion team, but did not record a statement as had been instructed earlier.

The Machakos senator was summoned by the cohesion team on September 24 to record statements.

The commission later said it did not take any statement from Mr Muthama because he had recorded one with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations last Saturday.

PARALLEL INVESTIGATION

In a letter presented to Mr Muthama, who was accompanied by his Siaya counterpart, Mr James Orengo, and his lawyer, Mr John Khaminwa, the commission said a parallel investigation into the matter was being conducted by the DCI.

Commission Secretary Hassan Mohamed said they would rely on statements recorded by Mr Muthama and other evidence.

“The commission’s officers were present at the rally and took notes. We are not yet done with him,” Mr Mohamed said.