ODM MP Junet Mohamed. [Photo/kahawatungu.com]
A court case in which Suna East MP Junet Mohamed is accused of perpetrating hate speech has taken a new twist after the presiding magistrate disqualified herself.
Homa Bay Principal Magistrate Susan Ndegwa said she could not go on with it because of personal reasons.
The magistrate did not give a detailed reason why she decided not to preside over the case anymore.
Mohamed is accused of making utterances deemed as hateful against the people from central Kenya.
He is accused of committing the offense during an ODM rally that was held at a Homa Bay town hotel, a function that was also attended by Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho, Homa Bay Women Representative Gladys Wanga, Governor Cyprian Awiti among other leaders.
On July 2, 2017, the MP took a plea in the court and denied the charges.
He was released on a cash bail of Sh100,000 or a bond of Sh500,000 with a surety of similar amount.
Justice Ndegwa scheduled the case for mention on January 26, 2017.
The case will also be reallocated to another magistrate on the mentioning day.