NAIROBI – Naivasha Member of Parliament Jayne Kihara is expected to plead to incitement charges on August 7 following a ruling by Magistrate Benmark Ekhubi at the Milimani Law Courts. MP Jayne Kihara faces accusations of offensive conduct that could disturb public peace, in violation of Section 94(1) of Kenya’s Penal Code. The charge stems from remarks made during a recent political gathering, where she allegedly insulted President William Ruto.
Appearing in court on Tuesday, MP Kihara requested a delay in the proceedings. Her legal team argued that the matter raises constitutional concerns and sought a 14-day stay to file for an interpretation in the High Court.
The court agreed to the delay, but Magistrate Ekhubi made it clear that the MP must return to take plea on August 7 without fail.
MP Kihara came under investigation after calling President Ruto as “mad” during a public rally. Her statement followed Ruto’s controversial order to police officers to shoot violent demonstrators in the leg. The remarks prompted the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to summon her on July 14 for questioning related to alleged incitement and undermining the authority of a public officer under Section 132 of the Penal Code.
A notice from Assistant Inspector General George Kisaka ordered the MP to appear at the DCI headquarters along Kiambu Road. “Failure to comply with the requisition constitutes an offense liable to prosecution,” the notice warned.
MP Kihara dismissed the summons as politically driven. In a statement posted online, she said, “The days of intimidating leaders using the criminal justice system are long gone. This summons is not about me. It’s about silencing dissent.”
Her comments came in the wake of the Saba Saba Day demonstrations earlier this month, which reignited national debate on police conduct and freedom of speech. The protests, fueled by frustrations over economic hardship and new tax proposals, have escalated tensions between government critics and state security agencies.
The Naivasha MP, a known ally of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, has emerged as a vocal opponent of the current administration. Her pending plea marks the latest development in a case that continues to stir debate over political expression and legal boundaries in Kenya’s polarized political landscape.
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