Hate mongers warned as governors agree to crack down
President Uhuru Kenyatta poses with governors when he hosted them at State House, Nairobi, on August 10, 2016. The governors agreed to crack down on hate speech during the electioneering period to maintain peace in the country. PHOTO | PSCU
What you need to know:
- Mr Munya confirmed that they agreed with the President to guard against the misuse of social media such as Facebook and Twitter ahead of the elections.
- The reason for coming down heavily on incitement and hate speech, they agreed, was to maintain peace before and after the elections.
- ODM leader Raila Odinga attacked the resolutions. He said they would undermine the freedom of the media.
Stern action will be taken against vernacular broadcasting stations and social media users propagating hate.
This is after President Uhuru Kenyatta and governors agreed to crack down on vernacular radio and TV stations and social media users for hate speech, drawing stinging criticism from opposition leaders.
Politicians were also put on notice as the country starts to lay ground for the next elections.
The President, who met the Council of Governors led by chairman Peter Munya at State House, Nairobi, agreed that stern action be taken against radio and TV station that broadcast in vernacular if they allow their platforms to be used to incite the public or spread propaganda.
MAINTAIN PEACE
The reason for coming down heavily on incitement and hate speech, they agreed, was to maintain peace and a stable united country before and after the elections.
The President and the council had agreed to give powers to security agencies at the two levels of government to arrest and take to court politicians who incite the public through their utterances.
Speaking later in Meru, Mr Munya confirmed that they agreed with the President to guard against the misuse of social media such as Facebook and Twitter ahead of the elections.
“The country needs to remain together. Divisive politics and breach of law should not be tolerated,” said the chairman, who was accompanied by 12 other governors heading various departments in the council.
The resolutions, however, came under attack from ODM leader Raila Odinga, who accused the President and the governors of agreeing on resolutions that would undermine the freedom of the media.
He said it was irresponsible of the government to spend public money holding symposia and conferences to discuss how to gag the media.
Amani National Congress party leader Musalia Mudavadi claimed that the Jubilee administration would misuse State institutions if the resolutions were allowed to take effect.
“There has been reluctance to allow the expansion of democratic space in the country, and deliberately failed to champion the institution of a constitutional government characterized by good governance, transparency and accountability in public affairs within the framework of pluralist democracy,” he said in a statement.
