By: Joseph Kamau Kiragu
Student: Maasai Mara University, Narok County
Electioneering fever seems to have gained momentum across the country as the clock ticks towards the August 9 general election. Multiple politicians are seen crisscrossing the country in the line of selling their agendas to electorates. Well, this is permissible and acceptable. It is their right since they have freedom of expression to sell their agendas and express their thoughts to the public.
However, before the IEBC announced the official campaign date, we were still witnessing politicians on the campaign trails who could use words and phrases that can be a recipe for inflammatory language.
We could also witness political rallies disrupted by violence, particularly between the opposing youth. It was allegedly said that such violence was linked with the politicians who could lure the youth to perpetrate violence.
It is worth noticing that the IEBC has already stated that campaigns can begin officially, and politicians can use this chance by using remarks that can jeopardize peace. In most cases, politicians use such phrases and violence to plant fear and try to weaken and dehumanize their political opponents.
They should know itβs their responsibility to campaign politicians to ensure that they keep off from such phrases and words. It is a high a time they know that inflammatory language can easily lead to political violence and ethnic hatred. The violence that followed Kenyansβ 2007 elections is a clear blueprint of the vicious impact of inflammatory language.
Elections are coming on August 9, and there is an urgent need to take the issue of inflammatory language and hate speech seriously to prevent political violence and set a firm stage for peace building in Kenya. Government officials should monitor all statements made in political gatherings and on online platforms and anyone who will be noted using unlawful words and phrases be brought to book.
The National Cohesion and Integration Commission should also be active and executes its role during this electioneering period. It is also high time for the Director of Criminal Investigations to rose to the occasion and deal sternly with those who will be caught spreading political rhetoric and unfounded propaganda. We are all looking for peaceful campaigns that will further ignite a peaceful general election.
