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Waititu faces arrest


A warrant of arrest has been issued against former Embakasi Member of Parliament Ferdinand Waititu after failing to attend court on Wednesday.

Nairobi senior principal magistrate Lucy Mbugua issued the warrant during the mention of a case in which the former legislator is accused of incitement to violence and hate speech.

The magistrate issued the warrant after the former legislator’s name was called out and there was no response.

Although there was a prosecution counsel in court, the one prosecuting Mr Waititu’s matter Mr Moses Omirera was not present.

During the last mention date, the prosecution was not opposed to the former MP negotiations seeking an out of court settlement.

“What we require is unreserved apology,” Mr Omirera had told the court, adding that the Director of Public Prosecution was not opposed to negotiations.

Through his lawyer Cliff Ombeta, the former MP had told the court that he had met with the complainants and they had discussed the matter at length.

Hold talks

“They are in the process of resolving the issue, he has spoken to the members of the Maasai community and elders,” Mr Ombeta told the court.

He added that they are in the process of involving the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) to deliberate on the issue with the aim of having the case withdrawn.

The prosecutor had told the court that he had obtained a High Court order to have his witness give evidence in camera.

Mr Omiera added that the witness is protected under the Witness Protection Act and will be using synonyms in his testimony.

Mr Waititu allegedly uttered words calculated to cause violence against members of the Maasai community living and working in Kayole.

The former MP, while addressing members of the public, also allegedly uttered words that were calculated to stir ethnic hatred.

The offences are alleged to have been committed on September 24 last year in Kayole area, Nairobi.

Mr Waititu at a past news conference at the court precinct’s said he had apologized to the Maasai community.

The case will be mentioned on October 16.

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