NCIC chairman Ole Kaparo asks DPP and Judiciary to expedite hate speech cases
National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) chairman Francis Ole Kaparo has urged the Director of Public prosecutions and Judiciary to expedite hate speech cases.
He expressed concerns over the slow pace of the cases, some dating back to the last general elections in 2012 which he said is likely to encourage impunity while speaking in Nakuru.
“Now we are going into another election period, you see what that means is that if you don’t deal with these things promptly and speedily, people will come to the conclusion that even if you are charged, the matter will never be decided in one way or the other,” he stated at the Bontana Hotel where the NCIC team was attending a peace forum.
“That is why I have said we are talking to stakeholders, the prosecutors, the courts and yes, we are also talking to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission. We will also talk to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission as far as the integrity issues are concerned,” he said.
The commission also intends to hold talks with the Registrar of Political parties on the need to enforce the code of conduct of political parties.
“It’s going to be a multisectoral approach; as a commission, we are determined to secure this country before, during and after the elections,” Kaparo said.
The commission has also put members of the public on notice regarding the spread of hate speech through social media.
The commission plans to buy some 1,200 recorders, which its officers shall use to record utterances made in political rallies for purposes of monitoring.
The commission is also working closely with the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) and holding talks with telephone service providers with a view to ensure that any hate messages through mobile phones are tracked and those responsible held accountable.