Korogocho MCA Absalom Odhiambo arrested over 'inciteful' remarks at Kamukunji rally

Korogocho Member of County Assembly Absalom Odhiambo was on Monday arrested in Nairobi over comments during a rally last week that were deemed inciteful.

Odhiambo was arrested by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, three days after the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) summoned him.

The officers apprehended him after he presented himself at the NCIC headquarters at the Britam Towers in Nairobi’s Upper Hill area.

The comments in question were made on Monday, January 23, during an Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party rally at the Kamukunji Grounds.

In a video clip of the event that was widely circulated on the internet, the MCA is heard criticising the Kenya Kwanza leadership while mobilising Azimio supporters for industrial action in the capital.

NCIC in a statement sent to newsrooms on Friday took issue with the ODM politician’s remarks, saying they invoked ethnic hatred.

“Political development in the last few days is creating unnecessary tension that if not well managed can plunge the country into chaos,” the commission’s Chairperson, Rev Samuel Kobia, said.

“A case in point is the utterances by Korogocho Member of County Assembly Hon. Absalom Odhiambo Onyango at the Azimio La Umoja Alliance rally at the Kamukunji grounds on Monday 23rd January 2022 which inter alia invoked ethnic hatred while inciting Kenyans to violence. Therefore, we have summoned Hon. Absalom Odhiambo Onyango to record a statement.”

Dr Kobia further urged political leaders to shun ethnic politics which may upset the current state of peace in the country and cause division among political groups.

 “We call upon all leaders to stop actions and rhetoric that can trigger violence. For if unchecked violence started in one place will be repeated in another and the whole country will burn before long. In such an event, nobody wins and all of us lose.”

The commission also called on Kenyans to accord the Head of State “respect and honour,” citing his role as a symbol of national unity.

“We wish to remind Kenyans that the President who is also Head of State is the symbol of national unity. Consequently, any actions that undermine the presidency will not only damage the national cohesion but will also injure peace and unity among Kenyans,” Kobia noted.