Shun these blatant lies

Politicians are fast becoming the biggest enemies of the reform process.

Despite several appeals to them to cease and desist, they keep twisting facts and thus trivialising constitutional issues under the guise of campaigning.

While democracy allows people to hold different opinions, these should be based on principle, not on whim. There are parameters beyond which common decency takes flight.

If the comments attributed to Belgut MP Charles Keter are anything to go by, then it appears some politicians are only interested in scoring points regardless of the truth.

Mr Keter was quoted as saying in Kakamega that if the proposed constitution passes, then Kenyans will be forced to pay taxes and buy napkins for their cats and dogs. He did not bother to pinpoint which section provides for such a situation.

Others have been reported saying that the proposed constitution will allow gay marriages, but they have never pointed out the relevant sections.

It a good thing that both sides of the referendum are exercising freedom of speech. But some politicians are taking this licence too far and telling blatant lies to a gullible public.

The National Cohesion and Integration Commission is trying valiantly to rein in hate speech, but politicians have now taken to believing that Kenyans will swallow their lies without question. This trend must be discouraged.