UPDATE: Meru Senator Linturi Released

Mithika Linturi, a Meru Senator, has been released on a Ksh2 million cash bail or a Ksh5 million conditional bond with a guarantee of the same amount.

Jan 11, 2022 - 11:41

In order for detectives to complete their investigations, the Legislator was also told not to contact witnesses. The Senator was also ordered to report once a week to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

This comes at a time, Nakuru Chief Magistrate Ednah Nyaloti denied the prosecution's request to keep Linturi for seven days to allow detectives to complete their investigations.

"I am satisfied that the prosecution doesn't have compelling reasons to limit the Senator's right to liberty," Nyaloti stated.

The senator was arrested on January 9th over his ill madoadoa remarks during a public rally organized by the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) during the weekend.

The arrest followed a directive that was issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji to the Inspector General of Police Hilary Mutyambai to investigate the matter and forward the findings to DPP’s office.

On Saturday, a video of the politician making remarks verging on hate speech during a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) event at Eldoret Sports Club went popular on social media.

Various political figures including Chama Cha Kazi (CCK) leader Moses Kuria and Kenyans slammed the Senator's remarks, claiming that they could incite hate speech ahead of the 2022 General Election.

"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.