By Andrew Kariuki

Counsel representing former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has dismissed claims that his client’s remarks referencing “Mt Kenya” were intended to incite division.

Addressing the court, lawyer Tom Macharia argued that the interpretation of the statement as hateful or inflammatory was misplaced.

“The first respondent is accused of stirring hatred, potentially inciting people because he used the word Mt Kenya,” he said.

He maintained that the reference was being taken out of context and did not target any community.

“When Gachagua says Mt Kenya, he means the mountain, not a tribe. He was talking about a rock,” counsel stated.

The defence argued that the allegations of incitement were therefore unfounded and based on a misinterpretation of the former Deputy President’s remarks.