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Court orders Kenyan police to go after 8 politicians over hate speech

Published

8 years ago

June 15, 2016

Court orders Kenyan police to go after 8 politicians over hate speech

At least eight pro-government and opposition politicians are now on the wanted list of Kenyan police after a court on Tuesday ordered their arrest over alleged “hate speech”.

Chief Magistrate Daniel Ogembo said he had authorised the detention of the eight politicians. He said the prosecution had shown the suspects were influential and that they could interfere with the investigation.

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Ogembo said the eight must return to court on June 17 for further directions.

The court order is expected to flag-off growing tension more than a year before general elections and follows weeks of deadly protests as ethnic loyalties tend to trump policy matters in Kenyan politics.

The 2010 constitution that sought to reshape institutions and national politics in Kenya guarantees free expression but expressly outlaws ethnic incitement or “hate speech”.

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