The National Cohesion and Integration Commission ( NCIC ) has been urged to investigate Lamu Senator Anwar Loitiptip for hate speech over recent utterances against the Luhya community living in Lamu.
Speaking to the media in Mpeketoni over the weekend, Lamu Western Association Chairman Vincent Maliamungu Lukano said Loitiptip made the scathing remarks against Luhya community following a fallout with a worker on his Premises, drawing the ire of more than 500 Luhyas.
“Recent remarks that appeared to degrade the Luhya community by the Lamu Senator following a fallout with a former worker were unfortunate and we as a community demand not only an apology but also a probe on the elected leader as his utterances appeared divisive in nature,” Maliamungu stated.
“We demand that the National Cohesion and Integration Commission investigate and prosecute the Senator for abusing the Luhya community as a whole, which goes against the spirit of nationhood,” he said.
He added the National Cohesion and Integration Commission should be keen on addressing such utterances especially in diversity rich constituencies such as Lamu, which he added has in the past bore the brunt of ethnic and religious induced violence.
Lamu Western Association member Caleb Mwelesa echoed similar sentiments and
advised the senator to seek forgiveness from the Luhya community which he said strongly
supported him in the past election.
He further urged NCIC to be vigilant against politicians bent on inciting supporters especially this time when 2022 general elections are approaching.
Contacted, Senator Loitiptip refuted the claims describing the incident cited as between him and one of his employees and not the community. “The association is bent on disparaging my character for political reasons which is unfortunate,” he added.
He affirmed that he was committed to peaceful coexistence among Lamu residents irrespective of where they come from, political affiliations or religion.
By Amenya Ochieng
