Lempurkel released on Ksh150, 000 cash bail
Former Laikipia North MP Mathew Lempurkel has been released on Ksh 150,000 after denying charges of inciting violence using hate speech.
Milimani Senior resident Magistrate Sinkiyian Tobiko granted the accused bail on conditions he provides his contact details including that of his residence.
In her ruling the magistrate rejected Lempurkel's request through lawyers Moses Kajwang, Saitabao Kanchori and Harun Ndubi to be released on a personal bond term of Ksh 30,000 since the offence he faces is a misdemeanor.
The former MP spent the night in police custody pending to face charges after the court declined to allow the state 14 days to continue holding him pending investigations over the ongoing clashes in Laikipia.
According to a charge sheet filed in court by the DPP, the court heard that between diverse dates between of May 11 and July 17 this year within the Republic of Kenya wilfully and unlawfully during a TV show aired by MAA TV made remarks in Maa language referring to Kikuyus as those people whose feet are infested with jiggers and all conservancies and ranches within Laikipia belongs to Maa Community and the investors may keep the land but the grass on those lands belong to the Maa Community. An act which brought lawlessness within Laikipia County.
After denying the offence Lempurkel lawyers sought to have him released on reasonable bail terms pending trial.
"The court does consider the hate speech charge facing the accused person is a misdemeanor and urges you to grant him reasonable bail as he has cooperated with the investigators in the matter,'' said Kanchori.
The court heard that the Former MP is being harrassed since the state is unable to contain the situation at Laikipia county.
However the DPP did not oppose to his release on bail but asked the court to impose bail terms that will ensure the accused person attends court.
On Monday the DCI officers presented the former MP in court seeking more time to detain him on grounds that he was being investigated over his involvement in the Laikipia skirmishes.
The state alleges that he uttered incitement remarks at live Maa TV show from May to July this year.
It is said that following the inciting statements there has been no peace as several people have been killed, property destroyed and the residents displaced in Laikipia county.
"As we are before this court there is no peace in the community,"Chief inspector Wanga Masake told the court.
Currently the government has since imposed a dusk to dawn curfew at the area in attempt to restore peace and public order.
The case to be mentioned on September 22 this year before trial magistrate Bernard Ochoi.
