Kenya: Minister Ordered to Appear in Court

Water and Irrigation Assistant Minister Ferdinand Waititu has lost a bid to block his arrest. The Embakasi MP will appear in court tomorrow to answer charges of incitement to violence.

Waititu had earlier today moved to court to seek an order barring the NCIC, the Director of Public Prosecutions and the police, from arresting and prosecuting him. He argued through his lawyer that since the matter had been politicised, he was unlikely to get a fair trial.

Senior Principal Magistrate Paul Biwott had also issued an arrest warrant for the minister. The order to apprehend Waititu was issued after the state made an application through state lawyer Lilian Obuo.

The assistant minister yesterday issued an apology in Parliament and offered a clarification. In his statement he said his comments were aimed at foreign Maasai who he said were the actual killers of the street boy in Kayole. Maasai leaders and politicians have however dismissed his claims and have demanded his arrest and prosecution.