By Lucianne Limo
The National Cohesion and Integration Commission ( NCIC) has warned radio stations against playing songs that may incite the public.
On Tuesday , NCIC Chairman Mzalendo Kibunjia said it has requested the Media Council of Kenya to monitor radio stations playing songs that may trigger hate among members of the public.
“Songs that promote hate along ethnic lines and stations that play such songs thereby publicizing them will be censored,” he said at the Commission’s offices in Upper hill.
Radio stations risk being fined one million shillings if found guilty of playing inciting songs while the artist of the offending song faces up to three years in prison or a fine of one million or both.
Kibunjia said the commission had received complaints and began investigating three vernacular songs that may contain words that are inciting to the public.
Some of the songs under investigation include: ‘Uhuru ni wetu’ (Uhuru is ours) by Kamande wa Kioi, Muigai Wa Njoroge’s ‘Hague Bound’ ,and Muhiko and ‘Mwaka wa Hiti’ (the year of the hyena) by Demathew.
”We would like to inform the public that the commission is investigating songs which are likely to bring disharmony among Kenyans,” he said.
Kibunjia said the commission has already hired the services of a certified translator to translate the songs into English so as to establish whether they are inciting.
“We urge Kenyans to remain vigilant. It cannot remain business as usual because we are all keen to have a strong and united Kenya after the next general elections, which will be the first under the new governance structure,” he said.
Kibunjia said the commission was also targeting political parties in their quest to promote peace and harmony.
He said the commission will hold a three day conference next week bringing together 50 key representatives of political parties to drive its agenda.
