Activate hate speech law to gag politicians

The hate speech menace has troubled Kenyans for years unabated with perpetrators sliding through the fence of justice. But it now threatens the very fabric of the society and, like cancer, it will definitely eat up the whole nation if not checked.

The utterances attributed to a certain MP does not only fuel ethnic mutiny but is a recipe for bloodbath. Kenyans are a peaceful lot until they get an impetus for war, after which they will go berserk, baying for blood.

Many Kenyans visualise back in the 2007/2008 post-election violence with a heavy heart and regrets and wish that the fracas never occurred. The scars, though gradually healing, are fresh and it takes only a prick to retrieve the bad memories hidden in the subconscious mind — a territory many wouldn’t want to step into.

Politicians do not have lose tongues like they want us to believe; they have disregard for law and law enforcers. How does one person keep spewing hate speech over and over and still tag along the “honourable” title if not go scot-free?

Victims of violence

Many politicians are victims of violence; so, they shouldn’t cast the first stone. Interestingly, it depends for which side of the political asylum one professes their loyalty but woe unto you if your camp is the underdog. Hate speech shouldn’t be fought on political fronts but a level ground in accordance with the law.

The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) was set up in 2008 to promote ethnic harmony and rid the country of hate speech. But has the NCIC done anything rather than preside over the spewing of vitriol by politicians through their careless utterances? Has it gagged the politicians from incitement?

But this is not the first politician to run a foul mouth. It is high time the law cut down to size inciters, trimmed their arrogance and instilled in them morals. Let the government implement the relevant hate speech law to gag loose talkers.

  [email protected].