By KPC Reporter
The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has sounded the alarm over escalating political intolerance, hate speech, and ethnic incitement.
The NCIC warned that such rhetoric poses a grave threat to Kenya’s peace and democratic stability.
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In a press statement issued on Monday, NCIC Chairperson Bishop Dr. Kepha Nyamweya Omae said that the Commission assumes its mandate at a critical juncture marked by “escalating political intolerance, hate speech, ethnic contempt, and violent rhetoric that have become disturbingly prevalent in Kenya’s public discourse.”
The statement highlighted recent disruptions of political meetings, inflammatory utterances by political actors, and coordinated online attacks targeting individuals based on political opinions and ethnic profiling.
“No political cause, however passionately held, justifies the dehumanisation of fellow citizens. No electoral ambition warrants the inflaming of ethnic tensions,” the Commission said.
The NCIC condemned the misuse of digital platforms to spread divisive content and coordinate harassment campaigns, stressing that online hate speech carries the same legal consequences as public utterances.
“Those who believe that the anonymity of a screen or the speed of a share exempts them from accountability are mistaken,” the Commission warned.
Reaffirming that “no one is above the law,” the NCIC vowed to pursue prosecutions where evidence of hate speech or incitement is established, regardless of political rank or affiliation.
Political parties were urged to enforce internal discipline and ensure their members adhere to constitutional standards.
“Silence in the face of intolerance is itself a form of endorsement,” the Commission noted.
The statement also appealed to Kenya’s youth, urging them to resist manipulation by political actors.
“Kenya’s future belongs to our young people. That future is best secured through peaceful, constructive, and lawful engagement. Not through violence, harassment, or the pursuit of political agendas that serve others at the expense of national peace,” the Commission said.
Calling for unity, the NCIC stressed that Kenya’s diversity is a strength, not a weakness.
“Unity does not require uniformity. It requires mutual respect, shared values, and a collective commitment to the idea of Kenya above all else,” Bishop Omae stated.
