The National Security Advisory Council on Wednesday, October 7, warned that all media outlets would be held accountable for publishing or broadcasting content intended to incite feelings of contempt, violence or discrimination.
In a press briefing from Harambee House, the Head of Public Service, Dr. Joseph Kinyua cautioned journalists against providing platforms to hate mongers, inciters and tribalists.
"Practice responsible and conflict sensitive reporting. Endeavor to air programs that promote respect, national unity and cohesion," he stated.
In addition, Kinyua stated that all social media users would be held liable for content appearing on their profiles pursuant to the National Cohesion and Integration Act.
"Before forwarding or sharing any messages, authenticate and validate the source and truthfulness of their content so as to limit information that might spread rumors, mislead or is not supported by facts," Kinyua stated.
At the same time, Kinyua declared that all political meetings would be held in strict compliance of section 5 of the public order act, cap. 56, where the areas OCS is supposed to be informed of the intent to hold a political meeting at least three days but not more than fourteen days before the proposed date of the public meeting or procession.
The OCS would be present throughout the meeting procession and would assist the police in the maintenance of peace and order at the meeting or procession.
Also, any person who intended to participate in the public meeting would be required to exercise a high sense of civic duty and responsibility and not to be in possession of any weapon.
"He or she should report to the relevant authority incidents of hate speech, incitement to violence, ethnic contempt or any other offence," Kinyua stated.
Further, all persons making their address in the public meeting were barred from using offensive, abusive, insulting, misleading, confusing, obscene or profane language.
The briefing came days after the Tangatanga (a group allied to Deputy President William Ruto) and Kieleweke (a group allied to President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga) clashed at Kenol on the Thika-Murang’a highway on Sunday morning, ahead of Deputy President William Ruto's visit.
The scuffle in Murang'a started when a group of rowdy youth blocked the highway at Kenol, and started engaging their 'political' rivals in running battles.
Unfortunately, the incident led to the death of two youth.
