NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenyan police on Tuesday arrested three top politicians for hate speech they allegedly made during rallies against a draft constitution, days after a separate rally turned deadly when grenade attacks killed six people.
Authorities arrested an assistant government minister and two members of parliament who police say made hate speech as they campaigned separately against the draft constitution in rallies across the country.
Assistant Minister for Roads Wilfred Michage and lawmakers Fred Kapondi and Joshua Kutuny were arrested Tuesday morningPolice Commissioner Mathew Iteere said the three, who were not available for comment after their arrest, may be charged in court Wednesday.
Iteere did not say what the men said or at which rallies they made the comments. The National Cohesion and Integration Commission, which gave their names to police, told local media they started their investigations last week, before Sunday's blast.
Iteere also warned Kenyans against inciting violence and spreading lies during the campaign for and against the constitution. Kenya votes on the draft constitution on Aug. 4.
"If you know if you are attending those meetings and you know your utterances border on hate speech then you will be arrested and charged in court," Iteere said.
Human rights groups and observers say hate speech fueled Kenya's 2007-08 postelection violence that killed over 1,000 people, leading the government to pass an anti-hate speech law.
But fears have risen in Kenya that campaigns for and against the draft constitution may polarize Kenyans and spark another round of violence.
Attackers on Sunday threw three grenades into a crowd of thousands protesting against the constitution in a downtown Nairobi park. The blasts killed six people and wounded more than 100.
Iteere said he hopes a $6,250 reward for information on the attacks will speed up the investigation.
