Senator Linturi to spend second night in police cells over ‘madoadoa’ remarks

Meru Senator Mithika Linturi was detained for the second day on Monday even as Deputy President William Ruto apologised to Kenyans for the utterances that have landed his ally in trouble.

Mr Linturi, who was arrested on Saturday for describing opponents of the DP as “madoadoa” during a rally in Eldoret, was expected to plead to incitement charges yesterday.

But police filed a miscellaneous application seeking to be allowed to detain him for seven more days to conclude investigations. However, Nakuru Chief Magistrate Edna Nyaloti directed that the politician be held at Kaptembwo Police Station until Tuesday morning when she will rule on the police application.

Mr Linturi’s lawyers did not succeed in pushing to have the ruling yesterday after the magistrate said she could not do it after working hours.

The lawyers led by Mr Elias Mutuma, Mr Kipkoech Ngetich, Mr Ken Echesa and Mr Peter Okiro, argued that their client was required to be present at the Senate today during debate on the Political Parties (Amendment) Bill. Mr Kipkoech said the delay by the prosecution was a tactic to have the Senator miss the debate.

“My client missing the session will not only infringe on his own rights but also the rights of those he represents,” he said.

The court, however, directed that hearing continues virtually overnight so that she can deliver her ruling this morning.

Earlier, the senator’s lawyers had protested his continued detention without being charged.

“It is clear that Senator Linturi is under an unlawful detention since the police are not allowed to hold an accused person for more than 24 hours without presenting them to court. We are calling upon the police to free him unconditionally to stop further violation of his rights,“ said Mr Echesa.

He added that none of the lawyers representing the senator had been served with a charge sheet or any miscellaneous application seeking to have him detained further.

He was presented in court around 4:30pm. On Monday, Dr Ruto led his allies in the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party in apologising to the country over Mr Linturi’s remarks.

Dr Ruto said the statement was “unfortunate, regrettable and does not reflect the position of the party that seeks to unite Kenyans of all walks of life, different communities and diverse religion.”

“Senator Linturi was... decent enough to apologise and withdraw [the statement]. I encourage every UDA member to be careful with the public statements they make so as not to divide the people, but instead unite them,” said Dr Ruto.

The DP said Kenya was a democratic country and politicians should compete on a platform of issues without profiling any section of the society. UDA also issued an apology.

“Notwithstanding the way the term madoadoa was deployed or the figurative and objective political intentions... the UDA party is concerned that potent and emergent misinterpretation of the same might evoke [negative sentiments] particularly given the [country’s electoral history] and, therefore, regrets and apologises for the turn of the events following those political remarks by Hon Linturi,” said UDA Secretary General Ms Veronica Maina.