This archive report was first published on 2 August 2019.
On August 2, 2019, Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria was acquitted of hate speech and incitement to violence charges at the Milimani Law Courts.
Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi ruled that the prosecution did not provide enough evidence to establish a prima facie case against the MP.
Kuria was accused of making derogatory remarks against Raila and his wife Ida during a political rally at Wangige in Kiambu on September 11, 2017, which he denied.
The prosecution relied on video evidence, but the magistrate dismissed it, stating that the authenticity of the video was not proved.
He further explained that the video did not meet the threshold of section 96 (a) of the penal code, which requires that the statement should bring death or physical injury to any person or to any class, community, or body of persons.
As a result, the MP was acquitted, and a direction was made to refund the Ksh. 300,000 cash bail that had been given to ensure his attendance in court.
