Jaguar to remain in custody for five more days

Starehe MP Charles Njagua Kanyi alias Jaguar has been detained for five more days at Kileleleshwa Police Station.

This is after the court Friday postponed a bail ruling to next week on Wednesday to allow detectives to complete their investigations.

The Prosecution on Thursday sought to have Jaguar detained for 14 days over the alleged incitement into allegations of incitement to violence.

The legislator was arrested Wednesday by detectives from Directorate of Criminal Investigations outside Parliament Buildings.

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The Starehe MP is accused of making xenophobic remarks last weekend when he demanded the deportation of foreigners doing businesses in Kenya.

His lawyer Duncan Okach had opposed the transfer of the legislator from Kileleshwa to Kamkunji Police station terming it a violation of his rights.

The MP has since claimed his recent sentiments on invasion of the Kenyan market by foreigners had been greatly misinterpreted.

“My recent sentiments over the invading of our market by foreigners have been greatly misinterpreted. I mean peace for the country and businesses should go on uninterrupted and all foreigners are welcome to our country” the MP said on his twitter handle.

Tanzania has condemned the utterances terming them careless.

The Kenya government has also condemned the remarks and assured foreigners of their safety and protection of their properties.

In a statement sent to newsrooms the ministry of Foreign Affairs  condemned Njagua’s remarks saying the unfortunate exploitation of the freedom of free speech to dehumanize foreign communities and incite local constituents undermines the welcoming culture that Kenya is reputed for.

The National Assembly has termed the utterances as reckless. The National Assembly Defense Committee Chairman Katoo Ole Metito while issuing a statement said the utterances go against what the country is known for which is hospitality.

His statement was supported by a section of members of parliament who warned their colleagues against issuing statements that may jeopardize the country’s diplomatic ties with friendly nations to gain what they termed as cheap popularity.

According to the legislators, the interest of the country overrides that of an individual.

The leader of Majority Adan Duale, however, called for proper scrutiny of the diplomatic ties with Kenya’s neighbours whom he accused of being unfair to Kenyans citing an example where a Kenyan was denied a work permit to work for a phone company that has its affiliates in Tanzania.