National Cohesion and Integration Commission chairman Mzalendo Kibunjia addresses a news conference in Nairobi March 20, 2013. He is flanked by NCIC commissioners. Dr Kibunjia said four people are set to be prosecuted for hate speech perpetrated on social media ANTHONY OMUYA
By JOHN NGIRACHU, Posted Wednesday, March 20 2013 at 14:29n
Four people are set to be prosecuted for hate speech perpetrated on social media, the cohesion body has said.
The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) said Wednesday it is on the trail of four people it will soon have prosecuted.
Commission head Dr Mzalendo Kibunjia also asked President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to actively promote national cohesion in the wake of the divisive General Election whose presidential outcome is now subject of a court case.
He said social media has become the latest tool used to spread hateful and inciting messages and admitted it is increasingly difficult to control and monitor.
Speaking at a press conference in Nairobi, Dr Kibunjia said the four individuals, who he did not identify, would be taken to court as soon as the commission has enough evidence to warrant a trial.
“We removed incitement in public rallies, SMS and in emails, music but now we are realising that that hate is going towards social media. That we realise is the next frontier,” said Dr Kibunjia.
Asked whether he would rather not name and shame the suspects, the chairman said it would be better to arraign them in court and have them punished as a way of setting an example.
The four have been investigated over the past two months.
He said from NCIC's experience, no country has been able to control hate speech spread through the internet.
Dr Kibunjia said the commission has contacted page administrators to pull down hate speech and asked some news websites not to allow comments on their online stories.
“Freedom of expression is contained in the Constitution and we understand if you were supporting somebody and you lost, you would be angry. We want Kenyans to express that anger but when you cross the line to become a hate posting, someday in the not too distant future, we shall catch up with you,” he said.
Dr Kibunjia said that while the plans made to prevent violence before, during and after the elections had worked, the online postings have been difficult to contain and track their origin.
He said in some cases, posts that have been reported for hate speech have been pulled down and the links they have been given turn up nothing. Most online hate speech is made on websites hosted outside the country, he said.
“Elections themselves, like we have always been saying, (are) not a wedding reception where everybody is happy and singing. Elections are emotive, and mobilisation for support, we have seen this year, has emphasised ethnic divisions.”
He said these divisions have continued online even as Mr Odinga filed the case at the Supreme Court against Mr Kenyatta’s win.
Dr Kibunjia said to avoid violence stemming from remarks by the two, the commission has sent goodwill ambassadors to ask them to tone down their remarks.
Ahead of the ruling by the Supreme Court, he said, plans to reinforce security in areas where violence could occur would remain. Also, the commission will continue its monitoring to prevent incitement.
“We must respect that institution that we are now depending on. If we go to other elections, then we must repeat what we just did (at the General Election) and we’d want the culture of peace to be in every aspect of our lives,” he said.
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