We’re not drumming up hate speech, say musicians on probe
National Cohesion and Integration Commission Chairman Mzalendo Kibunjia. Dr Kibunjia said NCIC was following up with the Media Council to find out whether the songs had been played on any radio stations. Photo/FILE
What you need to know:
- Cohesion team has accused three Kikuyu singers of divisive lyrics
Popular local musicians John DeMathew, Muigai wa Njoroge and Kamande wa Kioi have denied claims that their songs - now subject of investigations - are being used to instigate hate.
The musicians told the Nation that they would wait for the findings by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission even as they insisted that the songs had been “misinterpreted.”
Commission chairman Mzalendo Kibunjia said they were waiting for “an official translation of the songs from an authorised Kikuyu-to-English translator” before coming up with a verdict on the issue.
The three musicians dismissed the allegations as Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, who is a subject of the songs, expressed his concern over the divisive songs and termed them shameful.
“Music in our respective languages is beautiful, but when corrupted for an agenda that disunites Kenyans, it’s shameful,” he said through social media.
But Mr Kioi, whose song Uhuru ni Witu (Uhuru is Ours) is one of those being investigated, said that every tribe had a right to praise its leaders in their own language. He added that the translations being circulated missed the point of his song.
Mr DeMathew said he would wait for the outcome of the NCIC investigation before issuing a statement.
He however maintained that his song, Witueti Hiti (You Have Made Yourself a Hyena), has been subject to misinterpretation.
He added that he did not have a song called Mwaka wa Hiti (Year of the Hyena) and the interpretation he had seen was totally wrong.
Mr Njoroge noted that people had different interpretation of songs and some were just misinterpreting his song titled Hague-Bound.
The three are accused of singing songs that border on hate speech against Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Dr Kibunjia said NCIC was following up with the Media Council to find out whether the songs had been played on any radio stations.
According to the NCIC Act, if they are found guilty of hate speech, they will be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or a fine of Sh1 million or both.
A radio station playing the song would be liable to a fine not exceeding Sh1 million.
