Meru Senator Mithika Linturi is in police custody over comments he made in Eldoret during Deputy President William Ruto\u2019s rally on Saturday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Senator was arrested in an Eldoret hotel on Sunday morning following a directive by Director of Public Prosecution Noordin Haji to the Inspector General of Police Hilary Mutyambai.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mutyambai was instructed to investigate the matter and forward the findings to the DPP\u2019s office by January 14.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Watu wa Uasin Gishu musicheze na Kenya, na kile nawaomba ni kwamba madoa doa yale mulionayo hapa muweze kuondoa\u2026\u2019\u00a0Linturi told the Eldoret crowd on Saturday,\u00a0remarks which caused uproar for what was construed as advocating for tribal segregation<\/em>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
In his letter to the police boss on Saturday, DPP Haji stated: \u201cMy attention has been drawn to a video clip circulating on social media platforms portraying Mithika Linturi allegedly addressing a crowd and stating that \u2026 which utterances could incite feelings of contempt, hatred, hostility, violence or discrimination.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI hereby direct that you immediately institute comprehensive investigations into the said allegations and submit the resultant investigation file on or before 14 January 2021,\u201d added Haji.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Police have transferred him to Nakuru where he is expected to record a statement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Following his remarks, Linturi issued an apology saying his remarks were misunderstood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u200b\u200bToday, while addressing the UDA rally at Eldoret, I expressed myself using words which in a certain context, have acquired sinister political overtones and come to be associated with incitement and hate speech,\u201d stated the senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He added that he was wooing UDA supporters for full support in the August polls, \u201coblivious of the possibility that my choice of words might assume negative meaning.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt is true that words like ‘madoadoa’, whilst otherwise innocent and legitimate expressions, have in certain contexts come to be understood as representing inflammatory intent,\u201d added Linturi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis context did not occur to me while I was speaking,\u201d he went on, arguing that his words were a specific reference to his Uasin Gishu county parliamentary colleagues from Uasin Gishu county who are opposed to UDA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n