President Uhuru Kenyatta yesterday pledged to “do everything in [his] power to ensure there will be no repeat of the 2007 violence” incited by politicians.
“It will not happen as long as I’m President. That you can take from me,” the President said in an interview with the Star in Brussels, Belgium, yesterday during a state visit.
The President said Kenyans have suffered greatly, especially during and after the 2007-08 post-election violence, and it was wrong for politicians to start inciting people to violence again.
“I will uphold the constitutional rights of every Kenyan but those rights do not include incitement, destruction of property and lives,” Uhuru said.
“You can demonstrate freely but we will not allow any individual to infringe on the rights of other Kenyans. Incitement by politicians is what caused clashes between communities in 2007 and that will not be entertained.
“Those who choose to walk that path will face the full force of the law. That is how it shall be as long as I’m the President,” the President said.
A passionate and tough-talking Kenyatta said anyone breaking the law will be punished firmly, irrespective of their status.
“It does not matter who you are or what position you hold or how you are related to me —the law will be enforced fully,” Uhuru said.
Eight MPs from both sides of the coalition are facing charges relating to hate speech. They were remanded on Tuesday for four days and bail has been denied to all of them.
They are Jubilee’s Ferdinand Waititu, Kimani Ngunjiri and Moses Kuria — Kenyatta’s MP in Gatundu South — and Cord’s Junet Mohamed, Johnstone Muthama, Aisha Jumwa, Florence Mutua and Timothy Bosire.
Yesterday opposition chief Raila Odinga and other Cord leaders tried to visit them at Pangani and Muthaiga police stations where demanded their release..
“These members must be released without charge in the next 24 hours. If it does not happen, there will be consequences,” the former Prime Minister said.
Cord co-principal Kalonzo Musyoka said they waited at Pangani for three hours but were not allowed to see the politicians. He called the situation a “gross abuse of human rights.
“We remind those concerned, and we know them, the constitution is very strong on the Bill of Rights,” he said.
He added: “We are not making any distinction. All of them, including Jubilee politicians, must be released.”
But Uhuru said the law must take its course.
“Nobody is above the law. Freedom must be exercised with responsibility. Those in custody have not been detained. It is a judicial process and only the courts can determine the next course of action,” the President said.
On the IEBC, the President repeated that
