Hate speech charge against Mwakwere dropped

By Lucianne Limo

Environment Minister Chirau Mwakwere has been cleared of hate speech charges after the complainants withdrew the case.

The complainants were National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) and Muslims for Human Rights (Muhuri).

In the case, Mwakwere is alleged to have made a speech, during a by-election campaign in his constituency in July 2010, to the effect that indigenous coastal people have been oppressed by Arabs.

On Tuesday, Nairobi Chief Magistrate Lucy Nyambura cleared the Matuga MP of the charges on Tuesday after the complainants argued that Mwakwere made a public apology.

The Director of Public Prosecution did not oppose and the case was withdrawn under Section 87 (A) of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Over the weekend, Mwakwere publicly apologised for making the remarks.

The Minister had made several attempts to block the case that would have seen him dropped from cabinet.

He made four attempts to block the case by moving to the High Court to stop his arraignment.

Since last year, the minister has failed to appear before Nairobi Chief Magistrate’s court to answer to the charges.