The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has warned politicians against using mother tongue while addressing public gatherings.
The commission says that the use of such undermines national unity and is a step backwards in the push to realise national cohesion.
NCIC Complaints and Reinforcement Assistant Director Kyalo Mwengi has stressed on the need for the dialects to be avoided, even if it is deemed harmless.
“Giving alarming statements that targets collective national interest may not be hate speech but it undermines national cohesion,” he was quoted by the People Daily.
“When national leaders speak in public gatherings, they must realise that switching to their mother tongues has a likelihood of puncturing national cohesion,” he added.
He made the remarks before the Senate National Cohesion and Regional Integration Committee on Tuesday.
Session chair and Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua requested the commission to crack the whip on those found culpable, to prevent the situation from getting out of hand.
“Don’t wait until someone breaks the law, good manners and public etiquette must concern NCIC, to extend that it sets a bad precedent because it is likely to become a foundation and bad example for others,” said the lawmaker.
The warning comes a fortnight after President Uhuru Kenyatta's outburst during an Akorino function at Kasarani Stadium.
Uhuru was protesting against a group of Jubilee Party members drawn from his Mt Kenya region, whom he accused of engaging in early politics
Uhuru who switched to Kikuyu also accused the group of insulting him in political rallies, in the presence of his deputy William Ruto.