Highly educated people more likely to spread hate speech, says NCIC report

Delegates follow proceedings during a youth workshop organised by NCIC in Nakuru. NCIC CEO Hassan Mohamed said a recent social cohesion index showed that more educated people are highly likely to spread tribal-based hate speech compared to the less educated ones. PHOTO | SULEIMAN MBATIAH | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Mr Mohammed said the commission had begun the process of prosecuting the perpetrators of hate speech.
  • NCIC commissioner Mr Joseph Nasongo said social media is the new platform for both ethnic and religious discrimination adding that this was the major challenge.
  • Mr Nasongo pointed out that the commission had conducted an ethnic audit as required by the law.
  • The audit found out that, so far, 30 counties have not adhered to the rule.

Highly educated people are more likely to spread tribal-based hate speech compared to the less educated ones.

This was revealed in a recent social cohesion index by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC).

The commission’s CEO Hassan Mohamed said the research showed that the more educated one is, the more tribal they are hence their probability to send hate messages through social media.

Speaking in Nakuru, Mr Mohamed said people in the villages are less likely to spread hate messages compared to those in urban centres.

While cautioning social media users against posting hate messages, Mr Mohammed said the commission had begun the process of prosecuting the perpetrators of hate speech.

He spoke at a training workshop on peace, national cohesion and integration for youth in the region.

“People should avoid some sites used to spread some of these (hate) messages and be careful not to respond to the messages posted there.

“We have officers monitoring all the activities on social media on a daily basis and people should be more cautious,” said Mr Mohamed.

MAJOR CHALLENGE

NCIC commissioner Mr Joseph Nasongo said social media is the new platform for both ethnic and religious discrimination adding that this was the major challenge.

Mr Nasongo said the youth could instead use social media to fight against any form of hate speech especially from political leaders.

“If a political leader is reported to have uttered hate speech on social media, the youth can use the same platform to stop it,” he said.

Mr Nasongo pointed out that the commission had conducted an ethnic audit as required by the law and found out that, so far, 30 counties have not adhered to the rule.

The rule states that no ethnic community should hold more than 70 per cent of the positions in a public institution.

“As required by the law, any public organisation should not have more than a third of the employees from one community,” said Mr Nasongo.

He said the audit will also involve institutions like public universities and is to be completed by June 2016.

The two-day workshop seeks to train youth who will be used as peace ambassadors in Nakuru County.