[NASA flag bearer Raila Odinga in Kajiado. Odinga has been accused of inciting Kajiado locals, allegations he has denied.] (hekaheka.com)
The controversy surrounding Raila Odinga’s incitement claims continue to heighten, with leaders from both exchanging words over the same.
House Majority Leader Aden Duale during Jubilee’s campaign tour of Kiambu County called for the arrest of Odinga, saying his sentiments bordered on hate speech.
President Kenyatta joined the debate on Sunday, saying the opposition leader was dividing Kenyans.
He further said he will not hesitate to take action against leaders inciting Kenyans.
Interior Security Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery has also warned that Odinga will face action, if he is found guilty of inciting.
But what exactly did Odinga say in Kajiado, and did it amount to hate speech?
Wafugaji wanahangaika, wakati wa ukame, hakuna nyasi. Hakuna mbuga, wanyama wanakufa, maji hakuna, ile mpango nataka tufanye vile tulikua tumeanza na Kibaki ni kuleta pesa tuchimbe mabwawa makubwa ya maji, wakati mvua inanyesha, tunavuma maji ya mvua ili ukame ukija tunakua na maji ya kutosha ya mifugo.
(Pastoralists suffer during dry periods, no water, no food for their animals. We want to continue what we started with Kibaki, we sink boreholes for rain water harvesting for future use,” he said.
Hii inaweza kufanyika, lakini lazima tuwe na mpango mzuri. Tuhakikishe wakulima wanakua tajiri, sasa unapata watu wamelazimishwa kuuza mashamba yao. Wameuza mashamba kwa sababu si kupenda kwako, ni kwa sababu ya ufukara.
(This is all possible, but we must have a good plan to ensure farmers gain from their farming. This is to ensure people are not forced into selling their pieces of land, at times they are forced because of poverty.)
Wao ndio wanakuja kuvamia na kuvamia hadi sasa hakuna mashamba kwa sababu ya ufukara. (They come to invade to the extent that there is no land because of poverty)
Hii ndio tunataka kubadilisha, tunaweza kubadilisha hiyo ili watu wasiweze kuuza mashamba yao. Baki na shamba yako, usiuze, kule anatoka anakuja sababu gani kwako, si abaki kule kwao?
(This is what we want to change; we can change so that people don’t have to sell their land. Don’t sell your land; don’t they have land where they come from?)
Ndio maana tunasema tarehe nane mwezi wa nane ni siku ya mabadiliko, siku ya ukombozi wa tatu wa Kenya na wa mwisho.
(That is why we say on August we need to change this trend, it will be the country’s third and final liberation)
Odinga has maintained that he was misquoted and his words taken out of context, and that he cannot incite Kenyans.