DPP orders probe into Senator Aaron Cheruiyot’s ‘racist’ remarks at Ruto rally

Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot faces arrest after the Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji ordered Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai to probe the lawmaker over racist utterances he made at Deputy President Ruto’s rally in Eldoret on Saturday.  

Mr Cheruiyot becomes the second key ally of DP Ruto to be investigated after the arrest of Meru Senator Mithika Linturi over incitement.

Senator Linturi was arrested over his ‘madoadoa’ reference at DP Ruto’s rally at Eldoret Sports Club.

The DPP wants Mr Cheruiyot probed over his utterances that seemed to racially profile Kesses MP Swarup Mishra.

“How do you elect an Asian who goes ahead to show contempt to our leader? I want to tell you to reject him. I hear that he is giving out motorbikes and other things; I want to tell you to take them but vote him out so that he flies back to Punjab. We want all leaders to be elected on an UDA ticket,” said the senator during the rally attended by the DP.

Mr Mishra, who was elected on a Jubilee ticket, has since fallen out with DP Ruto. The legislator’s key allies have called on voters to reject him during the August 9 polls.

In November last year, Mr Mishra was heckled by the residents during a rally in his constituency that was attended by Dr Ruto.

“The alleged remarks captured in a video clip make reference to the racial identity of an elected leader, which utterances could incite feelings of hatred, hostility, violence, contempt and discrimination and may be contrary to Article 33 92) of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 and Section 13 and 62 (1) of the National Cohesion and Integration Act, No. 12 of 2018,” the DPP says in the later dated January 11.

Mr Haji wants an investigation report ready in seven days.

“You are hereby directed to institute comprehensive investigations in accordance with Article 157 (4) of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, to determine whether any offense (s) has been committed by the said senator and submit the resultant investigation file within seven (7) days of the date thereof,” Mr Haji says in his letter.

Mr Linturi, who was detained for two days after his arrest on Sunday, was Tuesday released on a Sh5 million bond with a surety of similar amount or an alternative cash bail of Sh2 million in his incitement case.

Nakuru Chief Magistrate Edna Nyaloti directed that the senator reports at DCI offices every Friday. The court also barred Mr Linturi from commenting on the matter.

Similarly, Kitutu Chache South MP Richard Onyonka and politician Abubakar Amana of Lamu are in trouble for incitement. 

Mr Onyonka was arrested Tuesday morning while Mr Haji wants Mr Aman probed for allegedly making ethnic remarks on December 19 last year.