I didn't write Bible verse; MP Moses Kuria defends self in hate speech case

NAIROBI: Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria now says he is not the author of a controversial Bible verse that is the subject of a hate speech case against him.

Kuria says he did not author the verse, Genesis 17:14, both on his Facebook page as claimed by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) or in the Bible itself. The verse has prompted the Director of Public Prosecution Keriako Tobiko to apply for cancellation of Kuria's Sh2 million cash bail in the criminal case.

It reads: "And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant."

Kuria was charged in June last year after allegedly posting on social media what were considered provocative comments after the Gikomba Market terror attacks.

He was charged with incitement, hate speech and causing ethnic contempt for Facebook messages posted on May 16. The complaint had been made to the NCIC by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK). He denied the three counts and was released on a Sh2 million cash bail and an alternative of a Sh5 million bond.

Thereafter, negotiations between the MP and the complainants were held to have the case withdrawn on condition that he issued a public apology in the media. The apology was carried in a section of the media on January 15, this year. On January 11, the MP had posted the Bible verse on his Facebook page prompting public outcry.