Interior CS Fred Matiang'i has warned politicians and radio stations against inciting the mass and propagating violence. The CS said that his docket was compiling and profiling leaders across the whole country, and would take severe action against them.
The CS, on Wednesday, February 3, said that he was contemplating shutting down all radio stations in Marsabit County over the escalating insecurity in the region.
"I am about to close the FM stations in Marsabit as they are airing hate speech messages. I consulted the Communications Authority and ICT CS (Joe Mucheru) and we agreed that the stations are of no use to us," he disclosed, adding that he would invoke the Public Order Act to enforce the closure.
Matiang'i, who appeared before the National Assembly Security Committee, raised concerns over the rising political tensions in the country, 15 months to the 2022 General Elections. He lamented that politicians were engaging in early campaigns, most of which were marred with violence.
The Interior CS said that the politicians will bear the burden as he would ensure most of them are barred from holding office. He urged investigative agencies and the Judiciary to ensure those accused are penalized.
"Some of them walk scot-free at the end. Government acts and it shall act as required. You may think that we are slow to act, however, when we act you will all feel the impact," he declared saying that they were preparing evidence against some leaders who would be taken to court.
The security committee had earlier on urged the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) to consider class as a basis for incitement and criminalise the hustler versus dynasty narrative. They said that it was pitting one group of citizens against another and was a precipitant for clashes.
It said that there was no difference between those inciting people along tribal lines and class lines On Wednesday, February 3, the lawmakers asked Matiang'i to liaise with the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) to punish those politicians who defy warnings issued by the agency.
Their remarks came hours after NCIC Chairman Samuel Kobia shared a list of shame detailing names of politicians whose utterances or actions incited the public during the month of January. The list included former Nairobi Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko, Emurua Dikirr MP Johana Ng'eno, Dagoretti North MP Simba Arati and South Mugirango MP Sylvanus Osoro.
Kobia stated that the commission was coming up with measures to ensure the country is peaceful and united ahead of the elections. He unveiled a multi-agency committee aimed at carrying out civic education on the public about peace and cohesion, devise conflict resolution mechanisms and actualise transformational and servant leadership in line with NCIC’s roadmap for peaceful elections.
