Gatundu South Member of Parliament Moses Kuria accused of hate speech escorted to Milimani law courts base cells after he was detained during pope visit last year.
BY SAM ALFAN.
A Nairobi court has recalled a witness to testify in a case where Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria is accused of hate speech.
The court allowed the prosecution to recall the witness to clarify hate remarks that Kuria posted on his Facebook page in 2015.
In the ruling Senior Principle Magistrate Teresiah Nyangene said the court has a jurisdiction to recall a witness for further cross examination provided the defense does not suffer any prejudice.
The Director of Public Prosecutions had made an application to recall a key witness for further cross-examination.DPP Keriako Tobiko told court he wants Martin Mbonga, an ICT specialist who testified earlier, to table a crucial document that forms the prosecution case.
Kuria is accused of making inciting posts on his Facebook page targeting the Luo community. The MP is accused of linking the Gikomba terrorist attack last year to members of the Luo community.
Tobiko, through his assistant Leonard Maingi, said the evidence he intends to present is important and will not prejudice the defense’s case.
“It is in the interest of justice that this court allows us to recall the witness,” Maingi said. Kuria’s lawyer Danson Mungatana opposed the application, terming it as a delaying tactic. “What the DPP is seeking is to reopen the case and introduce new evidence at the same time. We are strongly opposed to the application and we urge the court to reject it,” Mungata told trial magistrate Teresia Nyangene.
The case will be heard on May 16, 17 and 18.The magistrate urged the prosecution to speed up the case as she needs to complete it.
