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Friday, July 21, 2017

[VIDEO] 'I was misquoted': Lempurkel denies saying whites will leave Laikipia under Raila

Mathew Lempurkel has denied reports that he said all whites will be driven out of Kenya should NASA flag bearer Raila win the August 8 general election.

The Laikipia North legislator said his remarks in vernacular were mistranslated and that he was misquoted.

In remarks that have been seen as incitement, Lempurkel allegedly said they will ensure all foreigners leave and that their land is seized.

In a video seen by The Star, he allegedly says: "Some people called me and told me that if I lose this election, they will leave Laikipia. I told them not to worry. I also told them if we win this election we will take this land."

Read: Lempurkel says whites will be forced out of Laikipia if Raila wins poll

But the MP told The Star some white farmers who want to sell their land approached him and that he asked them to wait for Raila to take over so “a win-win situation can be reached”.

Lempurkel said he wants the government to buy land from those willing to sell it so locals can be settled.

“Those translating what I said the other day in my mother tongue have missed the point. All I said was we want a solution but the solution will only come after Raila takes over," he said on Friday.

In June, Raila was accused of inciting violence by insinuating that big ranches in Laikipia are owned by foreigners who do not live in them.

He denied the reports but a journalist at The Times of London who interviewed him said she quoted him accurately and asked him three times about the issue.

More on this: Raila denies calling for Laikipia big ranches to be 'rationalised'


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