The Elections Observation Group Media Monitoring Unit has revealed a survey indicating a total of twenty-eight cases of hate speech and inflammatory language between May and June.
The Observation Group, which assesses spread, degree and substance of hate speech and inflammatory language on radio, TV and newspapers, released its second report, with only 31 days left to the elections.
The group observed five national TV stations, 13 radio stations, including four county-based ones, and four local dailies.
According to Leo Mutisya, who is leading the initiative, their survey is aimed at ensuring hate messages are not spread through the media, to reduce chances of inciting Kenyans.
“A number of reported perpetrators were radio presenters, and Kameme FM was in the lead, with a number of incidents recorded against it, including one where they castigated, stereotyped and even played mocking songs against Koigi Wamwere for his political decision to switch political allegiance,” Mutisya said.
“Kass FM, which had one of its presenters accused of fanning the 2007-08 post-election violence, has been very careful at times, keeping off politics, and, if they do, only speaks about the government successes and its portal,” he said.
Other radio stations that were included in the survey include Radio Citizen, Radio Ramogi and Ghetto Radio, all of whom had zero incidences of hate or use of inflammatory language.
The group is monitoring top media stations, which include; Citizen TV, NTV, KTN, K24, KBC, Chamgei FM, Mulembe FM, Mbaitu, Inooro, Radio Lake Victoria (Homa Bay), Radio Ingo (Western), Radio Rahma (Mombasa) and all daily newspapers.
Early this week, the European Commission observers warned that there might be cases of inciting and violence after the elections, if involved agencies do not work fast.