We all are victims of hate speech but when it comes to political hate speech, well its a very big deal especially as the elections are around the corner.

Hate speech causes violence and we definitely want peace this year because the 2007/8 post election violence nailed so many Kenyans to the cross and it was no joke.

So in the past we have seen several politicians mentioned in hate speech scandals. Let’s take a look at who they were and what they said that made them be accused of making hate speech statements.

The Pangani 8

They brought tensions when a member of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee political party appeared to call for the assassination of opposition leader Raila Odinga.

Well they were arrested and locked in Pangani police station for quite some time, these broke the record because most Kenyans finally had hope that the law applied to everyone no matter your financial status and title.

The arrested included Moses Kuria, Kimani Ngunjiri, Ferdinand Waititu, Timothy Bosire, Aisha Jumwa, Junet Mohammed, Florence Mutua, and Senator Johnson Muthama.

Raila Odinga

He is currently facing an alleged hate speech scandal and is under investigation. Jubilee politicians claim Raila’s remarks over claims that he asked a community in Kajiado to shun others that have settled in the area as well as allegedly asked the Maasai to stop selling land to outsiders is inciting violence.

Well since the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) is reviewing recordings of the remarks, by the time they are done, we shall understand whether his words were indeed hate speech or not.

Ferdinand Waititu 

He has severally been mentioned in hate speech cases. In 2012, Waititu was allegedly reacting to the killing of a street child, allegedly by a Maasai security guard, for stealing a chicken in Nairobi’s Kayole suburb. The director of public prosecutions Keriako Tobiko then ordered for his arrest, for alleged incitement and hate speech against ethnic Maasai. Well the case was finally dismissed due to lack of evidence.

Waititu and Kuria also made headlines over hate speech

The two MPs were facing charges for alleged incitement remarks made at Kasarani during Njogu wa Njoroge’s thanksgiving service where they were sad to have spoken in their native Gikuyu. The Magistrate ruled that the English and Kiswahili translations provided as part of the evidence in the case were incorrect. And again due to lack of evidence the case was dropped. Kuria has also had his own share of enough hate speech cases that have been acquitted.

William Kabogo

Kabogo was alleged to have made hate speech remarks against NASA leader Raila Odinga over circumcision. Kabogo was also alleged to have said, “We should not waste time with boys or what do you say? I have often told you that the thing is not good because it is not something that you can detach. It retards a person’s backward mentality. Are you with me?” The case was again dropped due to lack of proof.

According to the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) they have expressed their disappointment at the lack of convictions in hate speech cases. They also say evidence is usually tampered with from time to time and witnesses who want to confess are scared as its usually a confession against high profile individuals.

Well most Kenyans still use social media to spread hate speech but again is it because we don’t know what hate speech is. Here is a brief definition; is speech which attacks a person or group on the basis of attributes such as race, religion, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, or gender.

Why should we not allow the hate speech of our leaders divide us during elections or campaigns;

• Because they’ll never know you died because of the remarks they made.
• Because it will take Kenya a long time before there’s justice for hate speech.
• Because they’ll still seat down and be good friends after they abuse each other
• Because their aim is to win your vote whatsoever it takes.

So lets not hate speech divide us as we are close to the August 8th elections.Be of sound mind and practise peace and stop fighting along ethnic lines on social media.