Starehe MP Jaguar freed on Kshs 500,000 cash bail

Starehe Member of Parliament Charles Kanyi Njagua alias Jaguar has been released on a cash bail of 500,000 shillings pending the hearing of his case on 4th September 2019.

The MP was charged with incitement to violence before Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi. He pleaded not guilty to the offence.

The Prosecution told the Nairobi court Wednesday that the legislator made utterances that intended to incite Kenyans against foreign nationals living within the country.

The court heard that he committed the said offence on June 24 at Nyamakima in Nairobi County.

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He was arrested on June 26 and placed in police custody.

The National Cohesion and Integration Commission as well as the Communications Authority of Kenya are among those set to testify against the legislator.

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, 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 and has to be condemned.

They said the statements were reckless and unneighbourly.

“The   Government   of   Kenya   deeply   regrets   the   careless   and   inciteful language   against   foreigners   living   and   working   in   Kenya   in   public utterances made by Hon. Charles Njagua, the Member of Parliament for Starehe   Constituency.   This   aggressive   and   ill-tempered   language   goes against the letter and spirit of Kenya’s welcoming ethos, as well as the progressive nature of the Constitution of our Republic.”

The government reassured all foreign nationals living and working in Kenya of their personal safety and that of their investments in the country.

At the same time, Government spokesperson Col Rtd Cyrus Ogun a also denounced Jaguar’s comments saying Kenyans were peace loving people who had over the years coexisted peacefully with other nationalities. Oguna said such comments were unfortunate and had no place in today’s global environment.