Deputy President William Ruto has hit out at National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) after their move to list 23 words as Hate speech.
NCIC on Friday listed hatupangwingi and Lina Kura as among the words that are likely to trigger hatred and violence.
Addressing the press on Saturday, April 9, after Speaker Justin Muturi joined Kenya Kwanza, DP Ruto noted that they were intelligent people to know the words to us
The Deputy President noted that it was an exercise in futility since they were knowledgeable people.
“Stop wasting your time trying to redefine our literature. I think it is an exercise in futility to try and tell us which Swahili/English words we should use, we are intelligent and knowledgable people; we know what we are saying,” the DP stated.
The DP said the Kenya Kwanza Alliance will shame the ‘Deep State’.
“The people of Kenya know how to speak and they will speak at the ballot,” he said.
He said the August 9 General Election will be determined by the choice of economic policies to be decided by Kenyans.
“People of Kenya have spoken clearly. This election will not be about leaders and changing the Constitution, but to change the economy for Kenyans and job creation,” Ruto said.
NCIC on Friday listed the ‘sipangwingwi’ phrase among the terms that contain coded elements of hate speech.
Others are fumigation, madoadoa, mende, kama mbaya mbaya and operation linda kura.
NCIC chairman Samuel Kobia said the words are now banned in public rallies, social media posts and political talk shows.
“This will go a long way in containing hate speech and ensuring our nation is secure during this electioneering period,” he said.
