Audio By Carbonatix
Kenya's director of public prosecutions has ordered the arrest of a deputy minister for alleged incitement and hate speech against ethnic Maasais.
The order comes after parts of a speech made by MP Ferdinand Waititu were posted on YouTube.
He was reacting to the theft of a chicken by a street child, which sparked violence in Nairobi's Kayole suburb.
There are fears politicians may whip up ethnic tensions ahead of March's polls.
Earlier this month, another Kenyan politician was charged with inciting violence that recently claimed more than 100 lives in the south-eastern Tana River area.
'Encourages impunity'
Correspondents say Mr Waititu is a fiery politician and has been arrested by police before - for protesting against the demolition of shanty houses in his constituency, but has never been charged.
It is reported that up to three people died in the trouble in Kayole on Monday.
Mr Waititu's comments - recorded by Kenya's Nation Television and put up on YouTube - urged residents to chase out members of the Maasai community and have caused outrage.
Keriako Tobiko, the director of public prosecutions, said they had incited violence and "feelings of hatred and hostility against the Maasai community", the Daily Nation newspaper reports.
Internal Security Minister Kato Ole Metito has also called for Mr Waititu's arrest.
Mr Waititu has now apologised after other politicians, including his party leader, Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, condemned the remarks.
But Maasai leaders say they do not want an apology as it encourages impunity and they want him to be prosecuted.
Allegations of electoral fraud ignited ethnic tensions after the December 2007 poll, leading to the deaths of some 1,300 people and forcing some 300,000 from their homes.
Mr Kenyatta - a son of Kenya's first leader Jomo Kenyatta - is one of four prominent Kenya facing trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in connection with the election violence. They all deny the allegations.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
PKO trio eye victories at Odwira Festival
59 minutes -
346 Ghana Navy recruits pass out after 26 weeks of intensive training
1 hour -
Newsfile to discuss EOCO-MP arrest, drug trafficking, speech arrests and $235m water debt
2 hours -
JoyNews gets results as listeners raise GH¢40,000 to help 17-year-old student with cerebral palsy attend SHS
2 hours -
Vice President calls for stronger local pharmaceutical production to reduce medicine imports
2 hours -
The brewing tension at KNUST; Beware the Ides of October….
3 hours -
Health Ministry moves to integrate traditional medicine into mainstream healthcare
3 hours -
550 pupils in Kintampo South get educational lifeline as ‘Seeds of Hope’ reaches farming communities
3 hours -
Opoku Mensah urges Christian Council, House of Chiefs to speak up on democratic freedoms
4 hours -
Teacher unions’ strike: Minority demands immediate payment of teacher arrears, 20% deprived area allowance
4 hours -
The Accra-Kumasi Expressway: Building it right
4 hours -
Beyond gold exports: Building value and economic resilience from Ghana’s gold
4 hours -
2027 AFCONQ: Ghana under pressure as Gambia beat Somalia 2-1
4 hours -
Eastern NPP Women’s Organiser calls on AG, Police to secure bail for Salomey Baffoe
4 hours -
Poverty, illiteracy driving acceptance of vote-buying among women – Damongo Queen Mother
5 hours