The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has flagged X social media platform over cases of hate speech.
In a statement on Tuesday, NCIC Chairman, Samuel Kobia, disclosed that the commission had mediated slightly above 70 cases of hate speech in the first half of 2024.
"This year, the commission has intervened in 95 cases of hate speech on social media. X is the platform with the most cases of hate speech, standing at 72," Kobia said in the statement.
The commission noted that 2024 has seen a resurgence of inflammatory rhetoric and threats of violence rooted in ethnic divisions after a difficult 2022 because of the heated political engagements.
“Kenya and Kenyans need time to heal and to do so without hurting each other. Kenyans need to discuss economics and the distribution of the national cake but not from a tribal perspective. 2024 has become a year full of hate speech and threats to violence based on ethnicity,” Kobia noted.
As the country marks International Day for Countering Hate Speech, Kobia urged Kenyans to engage in conversations on economic and social issues without pulling the disgraceful hate speech and tribalism card.
"Hating another Kenyan, just because they come from a different area, will not make your own life better. You can't rise by hate. We must all realize that together we can stand but apart as we are, we will fall," he explained.
In a message to politicians, Kobia asked leaders to refrain from fanning tribal rhetorics to achieve their political agenda in different parts of the country.
"The Tawe movement in Western Kenya is a political mobilisation along ethnic lines. Which is why the commission summoned Governor Natambeya over his statements."
"At the same time the ethnic balkanisation around the one man, one vote, one shilling is not only dividing leaders but is also creating unhealthy conversations around the privilege and development of some communities vs. others," the chairperson pointed out.
The statement by the commission came when Kenyans were divided along political kingpins, pushing them to engage in online and verbal wars.
