LAIKIPIA FORMER MP MATTHEW LEMURKEL DENIES INCITEMENT CHARGES AMIDST LAIKIPIA LAND SKIRMISHES AND INSECURITY.

Mr. Lempurkel was arrested on 09/09/2021 at Ongata Rongai home for questioning on matters relating to the insecurity that has been looming for the past week.

He was taken in by the Rift Valley Regional Coordinator, George Natemebeya. The former lawmaker was charged in relation to the attacks and raids that have been conducted by bandits in Laikipia. These raids have caused deaths, rendered people homeless, running for their dear lives, children destitute, widows, orphans, and hunger escalating.
Mr. Lempurkel appeared before the Honourable Senior Resident Magistrate Sinkiyan Tobiko after staying in remand for one night at the Capitol Hill Police Station, Nairobi. The charges were read and he pleaded not guilty and was released on a cash bail of Kshs. 150,000/= a constitutional right for arrested persons accorded by Article 491(h).

The Senior Resident Magistrate denied pleas by the police to detain him for 14 days to complete investigations citing reasons that the offenses were committed 2 months ago. She urged Defense Attorneys Thomas Otieno Kajwang, Saitabao Ole Kanchory, and Harun Ndubi to take notice that the issues affecting Laikipia are duel historical injustices and land disputes that ought to be addressed by National Government.
It was Mr. Lempurkel who contends that from what he gathered that people in Laikipia have been forced out of their homes as a result of his utterance on June 11 and 17 on a local Television. Further, he is accused of inciting the Maasai community to rise up against owners of ranches and conservancies in the county. The lawyer Ndubi objects the charges as read out in the charge sheet were not the words uttered by the lawmaker in Maa TV show.

Counsel further stated that the actual words translated by the National Cohesion and Integration (NCI) were not stated. He stated that the charges had been changed from murder, robbery with violence, cattle stealing, and destruction of property to hate speech.

The offense is a misdemeanor attracting a fine of Kshs. 1,000,000/= or imprisonment of 3 years and they will challenge the defectiveness of the charge sheet at a later date in the trial.
In praying for favorable bond and bail terms, his lawyers stated that Lempurkel was not a flight risk, he is jobless due to the Covid-19 pandemic his business has been greatly affected.

The prosecutor has indicated to the court that the charge sheet may be amended to include another charge upon completion of investigations. He was released on a cash bail of Kshs. 150,000/= and was directed to give particulars of his residences. The matter will be later mentioned for pre-trial directions.