Mithika Linturi arrested over remarks at William Ruto's rally

Meru Senator Mithika Linturi, who was arrested in Eldoret over the utterances he made at a political rally on Saturday, has been transferred to Nairobi for interrogation by the police.

Senator Linturi had on Sunday morning been driven to Nakuru where was questioned by the police at Kaptembwo Police Station.

Rift Valley Regional Commissioner, George Natembeya, said the Senator is due for further questioning in Nairobi by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and officers from the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) in relation to hate speech utterances.

Since Saturday, the Senator had been a marked man after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji asked the police to investigate the utterances he made at the rally attended by Deputy President William Ruto.

“There are people who each election year have been riding on the DP’s popularity to win the polls only to be backstabbers when they get into office. This time around we need them voted out because they have proved to be self-seekers because they have abandoned the DP and are the one sabotaging his ambition,” said Senator Linturi.

Mr Haji in a letter addressed to the Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai, the utterances could whip emotions leading to violence.

“My attention has been drawn to a video clip circulating on social media portraying Mithika Linturi allegedly addressing a crowd and stating that ‘…. watu wa Uasin Gishu musicheze na Kenya, kile nawaombeni kwamba madoa doa yale mulionayo hapa muweze kuondoa,’ which utterances could incite feelings of contempt, hatred, hostility, violence or discrimination,” he said.