The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has released Lexicon Words that it described as hate speech terms and could attract legal action.
NCIC chair Samuel Kobia noted that the words included in the lexicon have the potential to incite violence between two or more ethnic communities in Kenya.
According to the Commission’s chairman, politicians should avoid the use of words like Madoadoa, Operation Linda Kura and Fumigation.
“We have, therefore, taken the bull by its horns through this exercise of identifying terms and coded language that have been commonly used in Kenya’s political landscape with the intent to incite violence against various communities of differing political stances,” reads a statement from NCIC.
Other terms to be avoided are uncircumcised, eliminate, kill, kaffir, chunga Kura, kama noma noma, kwekwe, mende, hatupangwingwi, operation linda kura, watu wa kurusha mawe, watajua hawajui, wabara waende kwao, wakuja (Those that come), uthamaki ni witu, kimurkeldet (Brown teeth) and ututu Labatonik (uproot the weed).
However, he underlined that the lexicon should not be considered a comprehensive list of hate speech terms owing to the fact some of the words might be used innocently and out of context.
“As such, this remains a living document since the terms and coded language shall be regularly updated for use in the social media tracking of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission,” he said.
Persons found using the said terms will be listed on NCIC’s wall of shame ahead of the polls.
“The terms shall also be shared continually with the public in order to enhance their readiness and resilience against manipulation and polarisation by political leaders and other influential persons intent is to incite communities against others,” he added.
