MP Onyonka arrested over hate speech allegations

Kitutu Chache South MP Richard Onyonka has been arrested by DCI detectives in Kisii shortly after presenting himself to the authorities.

He was accompanied by a battery of lawyers, several Kisii County Assembly MCA and Kitutu Chache North parliamentary aspirant Geoffrey Asanyo.

Among the lawyers representing him is LSK Nyanza South chairman Wilkins Ochoki. Other lawyers who accompanied Onyonka are Ombui Ratemo and Zelmer Bonuke.

County Criminal Investigations Officer (CCIO) Beatrice Kabaillah said she had instructions to ask the MP to appear in Nairobi for instructions.

"I have instructions that in case you appear here I refer you to DCI headquarters," Kabaillah told the MP.

Onyonka's arrest follows an order by the Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji who directed the Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai to probe hate speech allegations in his utterances.

In a letter to IG Mutyambai, DPP said; " Reference is made to a video clip circulating on social media platforms in which Hon Richard Onyoka, MP for Kitutu Chache constituency is addressing a gathering in Kisii County. The alleged remarks captured in the video clip may be contrary to Articles 33(2) of the Constitution of Kenya 2010, which provides inter alia " The right to freedom of expression does not extend to - (a) propaganda for war; (b) incitement to violence; (c) hate speech; or advocacy of hatred" and section 62 of the National Cohesion and Integration Act, No.12 of 2008".

This comes two days after Meru Senator Mithika Linturi was arrested for using coded language that is said to be hate speech.

Linturi, who is still being held by police, was arrested on Sunday at a hotel in Eldoret and taken to Nakuru where he was grilled over his madoadoa remarks.

The senator's arrest elicited mixed reactions among Kenyans who called for action.

Allies of the DP, however, fired back at the authorities asking them to also take action against MP Onyoka who they accused of making hate speech remarks.