Hate speech cases signal trouble in 2017

Kenya is hurtling to 2017 elections with no safeguards. It’s quite evident from the ongoing incitement and inflammatory speeches and pronouncements by some of our leaders that we have not learned anything from the 2007 post-election violence.

These are not isolated cases but well-choreographed incidents by our politicians to foment hatred and divisions among peace loving citizens. What is disturbing is that the ongoing ICC cases have not served as a deterrence.

To date, we have not had any convictions locally for those who have been investigated and charged with incitement. This has emboldened our politicians with the number and frequency of inflammatory statements growing by day.