Let us heed President’s advice on hate speech

Once again, President Kibaki has appealed to Kenyans, especially those seeking elective offices, to avoid hate speech.

With the General Election scheduled for March 4, Kibaki wants presidential aspirants to focus on issues instead of name-calling that could incite Kenyans into acts of violence.

Kibaki’s caution is important, as peace and tranquility are a necessary prerequisite for economic stability and, overall, national development.

Already, with only eight months to elections, business and investment sectors are worried about rising political temperatures.

It is not the first time the Head of State is touching on the sensitive issue of hate speech. In May, he told leaders to stop abusing each other, and focus on what matters to the people they want to lead. He told them to instead work together in addressing national issues.

“Our democracy has now come of age. Sell your ideas peacefully without resorting to name-calling,” noted Kibaki in a recent official function in Nairobi.

His repeated appeals should serve as a reminder to those seeking high offices and the public in general that the country is yet to heal from the wounds and chaos witnessed in the 2007/2008 post-election violence.  We must, as a nation, reflect on this sad chapter in our country’s history.

It is no secret that part of the reason the country experienced violence was reckless and unguarded public speeches by some leaders, before and after the General Election. This fuelled ethnic hatred that resulted in the deaths of about 1,200 people, and more that 500,000 were displaced. Equally, property worth billions of shillings was destroyed. Needless to say, another General Election is months away, and we still have some displaced persons in refugee camps.

It is therefore important that the country avoids past mistakes, as we draw closer to the elections, especially in coming months when campaigns intensify. Leaders should heed Kibaki’s word and even preach peace in rallies to enhance national cohesion.

It may be prudent for leaders, especially presidential aspirants, to heed a recent call by Chief Justice Willy Mutunga during MPs’ conference in Mombasa, that they hold joint rallies to ease ethnic tension.

Already, some presidential aspirants have pledged to concentrate on issues. This is good enough, but it remains to be seen whether such leaders will keep their word.

The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) should equally be supported in curbing hate-speech.

NCIC’s recent move on musicians implicated in promoting hate-speech warrants compliments, but it should do more in checking leaders who still want to divide the people along ethnic lines.

Government functionaries, and the local politicians should support recent move by the commission to restore harmony between communities in the Rift Valley.  The commission should extend the same in all areas that experienced violence, even on a lesser scale compared to the destruction in the Rift Valley.

Kenyans must be proactive and help NCIC and law enforcers in identifying those planting seeds of discord.

The public should also question and interrogate statements by political leaders, instead of taking them as ‘gospel truth’.

Only through vigilance will the public help in ensuring the country goes through the elections peacefully, and, at the same time, prepare for the challenges ahead.

Elections come after every five years, and it would do the country a lot of good if political maturity were realised, for such processes to be handled as one aspect of life. The country has to move on thereafter in an increasingly competitive global village.

Kenyans should be aware that we must bequeath to posterity a country that boosts of stability and development. This is why President Kibaki, who retires after elections, emphasises that we must approach the elections with a lot more caution and patriotism.