Kenyan High Court dismisses bail plea by lawmakers held over hate speech

                              
The High Court in Kenya has dismissed an application for bail by eight lawmakers held over hate speech.
Justice Joseph Onguto said he would provide the reasons for dismissing the application on Thursday.
The leaders have been detained at the Pangani and Muthaiga police stations.
The leaders, who were arraigned in a magistrate's court on Tuesday over alleged hate speech, had moved to the High Court seeking their release on bail.
They are Machakos Senator Johnson Muthama and MPs Junet Mohamed (Suna East), Timothy Bosire (Kitutu Masaba), Moses Kuria (Gatundu South), Ferdinand Waititu (Kabete) and Kimani Ngunjiri (Bahati).
Others are women representatives Florence Mutua (Busia) and Aisha Jumwa (Kilifi).
In their application, the lawmakers claimed they had been held for several hours without food, water and access to medication.
They also said they had not been allowed to see their relatives or spouses.
They had sued the Inspector-General of police, the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.