Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot now says his remarks targeted at Kesses MP Dr. Swarup Mishra were taken out of context.
Cheruiyot, in an address at the recent rally at the Eldoret Sports Club, was quoted saying Mishra should be sent back home.
According to the Office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, the remarks amount to racial slur against members of the Indian community.
But addressing a media briefing after appearing before the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) in Nairobi, Senator Cheruiyot said his remarks were only targeted at the MP and not his race.
The vocal legislator also defended his remarks asking for Mishra to be sent home, saying he meant he should be voted out in the upcoming poll.
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This is despite the Senator being heard mentioning Punjab – Mishra’s place of birth, in utterances that were made in the native Kipsigis language.
“Saying that elected official should go home has its context in the Kenyan meaning. It does not mean that any particular person of any race, religion, or anything should be evicted. It simply means that somebody should not be voted back in office and it is a phrase that is used on many occasions by all of us,” Senator Cheruiyot said, as quoted by Capital FM.
He spoke after being grilled by NCIC for almost four hours on Wednesday, January 12, 2022.
NCIC in summoning the legislator who is a close ally of Deputy President William Ruto termed his remarks as inflammatory and discriminatory.
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However, the Kericho Senator noted that he only differs with Mishra politically, but has no personal issues.
“We are friends with Mishra and since that Saturday we have spoken more than three times,” Aaron Cheruiyot said.
Already Meru Senator Mithika Linturi has been arrested and charged for utterances he made during the Eldoret Mega rally.
Kitutu Chache South MP Richard Onyonka has also been grilled over another inciting remark he made in Kisii, in response to Linturi’s utterances.