A FEW MORE SIGNS THAT KENYA IS POLARIZING BEFORE REFERENDUM

QT/REUTERS:Kenya charges politicians with making hate speech

Two Kenyan members of parliament and an assistant minister were charged yesterday with hate speech while campaigning for the rejection of a proposed new constitution.

A Nairobi court granted MPs Fred Kapondi and Joshua Kutuny, Assistant Minister for Roads Wilfred Machage, and Christine Miller, the wife of a former chief justice who was also charged, a bail of 100,000 Kenya shillings ($1,244) after they pleaded not guilty.

Kapondi, Machage and Kutuny are accused of threatening to evict people from their land if the constitution is adopted. Miller stands accused of incitement to violence against those campaigning for a “Yes” vote. They were charged with violating a 2008 law aimed at fostering national cohesion and integration after a bloody post-election crisis led to the killing of 1,300 people earlier that year. Kenya is due to hold a vote on August 4 on the proposed charter.

The charges of stoking fears amongst Kenya’s various communities come days after the run-up to the vote turned violent when six people were killed and over 100 injured when three grenades exploded at a prayer meeting and “No” rally.

SG:

Church denied permit to hold service for blast victims at Uhuru Park

The clergy has been denied a permit to hold a memorial service for the victims of last Sunday grenade attack at Uhuru Park today.

Organisers of the cancelled gathering addressed the media yesterday and cried foul, saying the Nairobi City Council, which denied them the permit, was being used to intimidate and frustrate them.

... "We are seeing a conspiracy to deny the churches an opportunity to meet and condole with the bereaved families, but we will pass our message from elsewhere," said Bob Kabugi.

Accompanied by Oliver Kisaka, the NCCK Deputy Secretary General and member Connie Kivuti, the organisers said prayers for those who died, the injured and traumatised Christians would be conducted at the All Saints Cathedral starting 10am.

KENYA IS CREEPING TOWARDS SHARIA...

IF THE NEW CONSTITUTION PASSES IT WILL LEAP FROG.

STAY TUNED...