PRESS STATEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
16TH OCTOBER 2019
STOP HATESPEECH AND INCITEMENT TO VIOLENCE IN THE ONGOING
BY-ELECTIONS
The attention of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has been drawn to the ongoing by-election campaigns for the Member of the National Assembly for Kibra Constituency and Ganda Ward (Kilifi County) for Member of County Assembly (MCA).
The Commission has noticed that while the electorate and the cleared candidates in these areas have been largely restrained, a number of their campaigners, who are largely politicians, have been using violent language that may have the potential of inciting members of the public to violence.
The Commission has therefore dispatched a team of cohesion monitors to these areas with a view of monitoring the campaigns. Anyone who may be found inciting members of the public to violence will face the law. The Commission is in receipt of a number of audio and video clips of politicians making what may amount to inflammatory statements. The clips are currently being reviewed by the Commission in conjunction with other security agencies. Should the clips reveal violations of the law, the perpetrators will be held accountable.
The Commission is also monitoring social media platforms to ensure that these platforms are not used to incite violence and or propagate hate speech or ethnic contempt.
We continue to urge members of the public to maintain peace not just in the areas conducting the by-elections but, in the country, at large.
MR. HASSAN S. MOHAMED, OGW
COMMISSION SECRETARY
