Kenyans have no room for hate but unity, integration, and cohesion  

Today we have been in to court to dramatise our intolerance of divisive politics, to witness the steps towards curbing and stamping out irresponsible utterances meant to incite Kenyans and to show solidarity with the National Cohesion and Integration Commission and the Kenya police as they demonstrate that they are serious to hold to account those who breach the principles of freedom speech to engage in hate speech.  

This court case against such high profile personalities is a welcome move for Kenyans especially the small people of our society who today continue to wallow in untold suffering as a result of the hate politics of the 1992, 1997 and 2007 general elections. It is the re-occurrence of the reckless talk and bravado of insinuation and impunity by the political class recently witnessed in our media that signals to warn us that we have a long way to go towards achieving a united Kenya. Kenyans who have lost their limbs, their lives, their loved ones and their livelihoods are attentive to ensure justice is done and seen to be done to perpetrators of events that led and if left unattended to may lead up to a repeat of heinous crimes against Kenyans by fellow Kenyans.  

It is unacceptable that at a time in our history, when we are in the process of dialogues towards building a new Kenya that is united, democratic, and just, there would be retrogressive forces amongst us that through their utterances stir up emotions that divide us on tribal or political lines. It does not matter who engages in this, and our law enforcement arm must move with speed to hold them to account. We are watchful of the case that is in court, and we want to keep up the pressure to make sure that those culpable do not escape justice.  

As Kenyans who are committed to attaining long lasting peace and unity in Kenya, we have come together as a consolidated movement to identify, clearly define, and to outlaw from amongst conversations and statements that disparage fellow Kenyans and serve no purpose than to incite Kenyans against each other. We are committed to clearly and impartially delineating what is unacceptable speech by any person, be they Kenyan or otherwise, be they grassroots or elite, be they the governed or the governor, without fear or favour. 

We are also committed to ensuring that this is carried out impartially and justly - without witch hunting or malicious character assassinations or imperious prosecution of perceived dissenters by the status quo. Our involvement in guarding the society against the vitriol of hate speech is not a once-off campaign targeting certain individuals, but we are looking to cascade this into a huge movement of Kenyans who are spreading unity and social cohesion.  

We want to use this opportunity to warn fellow Kenyans to guard themselves from individuals that engage in act of impunity to incite people and plant seeds of discord. Let us all be vigilant to identify retrogressive elements amongst us whose words will clearly betray their underlying interests. Let all Kenyans be fearless in defending the peace and if we spot hate mongers, let us name and shame them and hold them accountable to the full extent of the law.  

Signed for Kenya Human Rights Network
George Nyongesa,
National Coordinator
Bunge la Mwananchi

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