Kevin Odiwuor Otieno, alias “Engineer Kevin”, has been charged with making remarks allegedly intended to stir ethnic hatred, hostility and violence against Burundians living and working in Kenya.
Otieno, 32, appeared before Senior Resident Magistrate Stephany Bett at the Makadara Law Courts on Wednesday and denied three charges arising from remarks he allegedly made during a Bunge la Mwananchi gathering at Jacaranda Grounds in Kayole. The remarks, made on September 6, 2026, were captured on video and later circulated widely on social media, prompting investigations by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Buruburu.
The prosecution alleges that Otieno’s utterances were directed at Burundian nationals residing in Kenya and engaged in various economic activities, including employment.
He was charged with ethnic contempt, hate speech and offensive conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace. The charges include an allegation of hate speech contrary to Section 13(1)(a), as read with Section 62 of the National Cohesion and Integration Act. Otieno pleaded not guilty to all three counts.
Principal Prosecution Counsels Alex Gituma and Maureen Mwenesa did not oppose his release on bail or bond, but asked the court to consider the seriousness of the allegations.
The court granted Otieno a bond of KSh300,000 or an alternative cash bail of KSh150,000.
His arrest followed preliminary investigations into the video and the circumstances surrounding the remarks, with detectives examining their alleged intent and whether they amounted to offences relating to hate speech and ethnic incitement.
The case will be mentioned on October 28, 2026.
The DCI has previously warned that constitutional protection of freedom of expression does not extend to hate speech, ethnic incitement or advocacy of violence, particularly where individuals or communities are targeted on the basis of nationality or ethnicity.
