NCIC acts to tackle election hate speech
National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) says it has tightened measures to tackle hate speech as the country gears towards August 9 General Election.
NCIC Commissioner Philip Okundi said stringent measures have been put in place to ensure politicians who perpetrate hate speech are arrested and prosecuted.
Okundi said the commission is employing a multi-agency approach as it seeks to contain incidences of hate speech during the electioneering period.
He revealed that a team comprising State and non-state actors has constituted and shall be engaged to help contain the vice and ensure peaceful coexistence among Kenyans.
Okundi announced that the State actors include national government administration officials, police, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the National Authority for Campaign against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA).
“The commission is employing a multi-agency approach to deal with politicians who perpetrate hatred. We have dispatched our officials on the ground to gather evidence on politicians perpetrating hatred in their utterances,” Okundi said in Homa Bay town yesterday when the commission flagged a caravan preaching peace in Homa Bay County.
Okundi, who was flanked by Homa Bay county Commissioner Moses Lilan, said the names of hate mongers shall also be published in the book of shame.
The former Rangwe MP asked politicians to be sensitive and shun reckless statements that may breed violence in the country.
Lilan said politicians who breach peace will not be tolerated in the county as campaigns hots up.
