Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna didn’t hold back on Friday, January 3, 2025, as he reacted to controversial remarks made during the burial of National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula’s mother in Bungoma County.
The outspoken senator expressed concern about the kind of advice President William Ruto is receiving from some of the leaders present at the event.
Sifuna voiced his alarm over speeches that seemed to challenge the boundaries of freedom of speech, particularly the limitations set out in Article 33 of the Constitution.
He stressed that while the Constitution guarantees freedom of expression, it also clearly outlines restrictions to prevent incitement, hate speech, and harm. Sifuna made it clear that attempts to expand these limits beyond what is constitutionally allowed were deeply troubling.
“I was shocked beyond words by some of the speeches here in Bungoma County,” Sifuna remarked. “If these are the voices President Ruto is listening to, he is in more trouble than he knows. Freedom of speech cannot be limited beyond the boundaries set by Article 33.”
Among those who voiced concerns at the funeral was Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, who condemned the irresponsible use of social media and called for action against those found guilty of misuse.
However, Sifuna was quick to criticize these sentiments, claiming that the real issue lies not in social media but in the unpopular policies of the Kenya Kwanza government.
“Social media is not the problem. The problem is the policies of this regime that continue to hurt Kenyans,” Sifuna said, pointing out that the Computer Misuse Act, cited by some leaders, is unconstitutional.
The event was also marked by a tense exchange between Trans Nzoia County Governor George Natembeya and Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah. Natembeya, frustrated by the growing number of abductions in the country, urged President Ruto to intervene and end the issue of enforced disappearances.
Ichung’wah, however, quickly hit back, accusing Natembeya of failing to address similar issues during his tenure as a regional commissioner, even going as far as accusing him of dividing the Western region.
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