Wanjala Danson
National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has set out effort to shift blame games to other institution in its work to fight hate speech special among politicians.
First NCIC pointed a finger at the Judiciary accusing it of giving little bonds and bails to those accused of hate speech in the country.
The commission said Judiciary is frustrating its efforts to jail the offenders in hate speech cases specially politicians.
According Commissioner Morris Dzoro the commission has done its part in addressing hate speech but judiciary dragging the down the fight.
“We have done our part as a commission but the problem lies with the judiciary which is giving the suspects lenient bond terms and dragging their cases in court,” he said.
To introduce censorship and blame the media in relation to fighting hate speech , a joint parliamentary committee on national cohesion has asked NCIC to monitor vernacular radio stations on grounds that politicians are using them too perpetrate hate speech.
Elsewhere, Media council of Kenya chief executive officer Haron Mwangi has threatened to take action against journalists and media houses involved in professional misconducton social media platforms.
According to him, a section of journalists are taking political sides on social media, something which he said is tainting their professionalism and objectivity.
“The Council shall not hesitate to lodge complaints with the commission that is mandated to take action against journalists and media houses involved in professional misconduct,” he stated in a statement.
He said it is important for journalists and media houses to should uphold high standards while on social mediaurging editors to take responsibility of content published.
He further put vernacular radio stations on the spot for leading in propagating hate adding that they should practice their responsibility in accordance to articles 22 and 25 of the Code of Conduct for Journalism Practice.
Article 25 of the Code of Conduct for the Practice of Journalism warns against quoting persons making offensivecomments based on race, creed, ethnicity, colour and sex.
Furthermore, NCIC has a MoU with the Editor Guild to ensure media outlets do not disseminate hate speech uttered by mongers.
Some people have argued that the reason why the hate mongers have gained notoriety and prominence in the country is because of the mainstream media providing a platform.
According to Statistics about 4.5 million Kenyans are on social media while all Kenyans get connected to the mainstream media.
Ironic most hate statements have originated and spread by social media.
To intensify war on hate speech, the Director of Criminal Investigations (CID) office is work with the NCIC.
Head of CID Ndegwa Muhoro and NCIC Chairman Francis Kaparo have joint efforts to crack down on hate-mongers across the country as well as on social media.
Kaparo further said has partnership with mobile service providers where they are to send political hate-provoking messages to NCIC for screening.
However, the eight legislators accused of hate speech and incitement to violence were freed on bail.
The Nairobi Chief Magistrate Daniel Ogembo released legislators Johnston Muthama, Timothy Bosire, Aisha Jumwa, Junet Mohamed, Florence Mutua and Kimani Ngunjiri on a Ksh 1 million bond each with a surety of a similar amount or an alternative cash bail of Ksh 300,000.
He also released legislators Moses Kuria and Ferdinand Waititu on a Ksh 5 million bond each and a surety of a similar amount or Ksh 2 million bail.
According to the court noted that Kuria and Waititu face similar cases but are innocent until proven guilty, therefore, dismissing the prosecution’s application to deny them bail.
The prosecution had said if released, the accused persons are likely to commit similar offences but the court said the prosecution had failed to prove that they were previously convicted and likely to commit a similar offence.
Ogembo ruled that no witnesses have been disclosed to the accused persons, there are, therefore, no compelling reasons to deny them bail.
CORD legislators Johnstone Muthama (Machakos Senator), Aisha Jumwa (Kilifi Women Representative), Timothy Bosire (Kitutu Masaba), Florence Mutua (Busia Women Representative), Junet Mohamed (Suna East) were arrested alongside Jubilee’s Moses Kuria (Gatundu South), Ferdinand Waititu (Kabete) last week and locked up at the Muthaiga and Pangani police stations for four days.
On the other hand, President Kenyatta has stated that the country would not be divided along tribal lines by leaders purporting to exercise democracy.
Uhuru added that those inciting Kenyans would face the law irrespective of the positions they held.
“Those individuals inciting Kenyans will face the full hand of the law, irrespective of who they are. If we want to exercise democracy let us do so on the basis of political agenda but never again on tribe or religion,” he stated.
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