Bid to Have Kuria MP Machage Arrested Fails

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I join the overwhelming majority of Ghanaians and, indeed, all peoples across the world in congratulating the former President of the Republic, His Excellency John Agyekum Kufuor, on being honoured by the World Food Prize Foundation for leading Ghana to become the first sub-Saharan African country to cut by half the proportion of its people who suffer from hunger, living under the recognized poverty line of US$1.25. This prestigious award confirms President Kufuor’s tireless and competent efforts in prosecuting the old war against poverty

Nairobi Star (Nairobi)

Star Reporter

23 June 2011

Attempts by prosecution in a hate speech case to have Kuria MP Wilfred Machage arrested flopped yesterday. The state prosecutor applied for issuance of warrant of arrest against Mr Machage after he failed to show up in court yesterday for hearing of a criminal case against him. However trial magistrate Gilbert Mutembei declined to grant the prosecutions plea without giving reasons.

The MP did not show up in court as he is said to be away attending to official duties. Machage is facing four charges relating to hate speech. He is charged together with two others under the National Cohesion and Integration Act enacted in December 2008 to curb ethnic hatred. Machage faces four counts while Mt Elgon MP Fred Kapondi faces one count of making hate speech.

Also charged with incitement is Christine Nyaguthia Miller, the wife of former Chief Justice Cecil Miller. The charges arose from speeches they made during the launch of the ‘No’ secretariat at Upper Hill, Nairobi.

Machage is accused of having made four Kiswahili statements targeting the Maasai, Kikuyu and the Luo.Kapondi allegedly said some communities in Trans Nzoia and Bungoma would be evicted.

Miller is said to have uttered the words: “Kwanini watu wa Yes hawajakuja central? Ni kwa sababu wanajua huko kwetu pale Githunguri tutawapiga na mawe na tuwaambie hapa ni No.” (The ‘Yes’ group has not come to Central because they know in Githunguri we shall stone them and let them know that we are supporting No camp.) The magistrate adjourned the hearing of the case to July 19.

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Bid to Have Kuria MP Machage Arrested Fails