Three Kenya legislators have been charged with incitement to violence, a day after they were arrested over hate speech.

Assistant Roads minister Wilfred Machage, Mount Elgon MP Fred Kapondi and his Cherangany counterpart Joshua Kutuny were charged with inciting violence. The trio denied the charges before Chief Magistrate Gilbert Mutembei. Political activist Christine Nyagitha who was charged alongside the three members of parliament also denied the charges. All the accused belong to the "NO" side opposing the new constitution being proposed for Kenya.

Prosecutor Onesmus Towett requested the court to hold the politicians in custody for three days to allow police complete investigations, which was opposed by lawyers Katwa Kigen and Moses Cheboi representing the latter.

Mr Machage, the Kuria MP, faces four charges of incitement to violence while Mr Kapondi and Ms Nyagitha face one count each.

The charges relate to statements they made during the launch of the No secretariat on June 10.

Mr Kutuny, who was charged separately, is accused of distributing leaflets in Transzoia, Rift Valley province, that warned non-Pokots to leave the area if Kenyans ratify the proposed constitution in the referendum set for August 4.

He is accused of distributing the leaflets on varied dates in May.

Higher Education minister William Ruto and Belgut MP Charles Keter were present in court.

On Monday, the National Cohesion and Integration Commission said it had evidence of hate speech against Mr Ruto and the MPs.

It also listed MPs Julius Kones and Mohammed Sheikh Dor.

In Parliament, Prof George Saitoti issued a ministerial statement saying that investigations, of a broad nature, into Sunday's grenade attack during a No crusade in Nairobi's Uhuru Park, were ongoing.

He said the police probe will try to unravel the kind of explosives used, the people behind the deadly detonation and their motive.