Murkomen: Hate speech cases down, only a few notorious voices left

Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen [MURKOMEN/FB]

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has said Kenya has recorded a decline in cases of hate speech, noting that only a handful of notorious individuals continue to fuel the vice.

Speaking on Saturday during a press briefing at the Jukwaa la Usalama forum in Vihiga, Murkomen expressed satisfaction that inflammatory rhetoric has been on the decline in recent times.

“I am very glad to note that in the recent past, we haven’t seen so many cases of hate speech, just a few notorious individuals known by Kenyans. And even then, they have begun to reduce their vitriol,” Murkomen said.

He added that the government will continue to carry out full enforcement of the law to ensure a society that operates within legal limits, especially in the run-up to elections.

The CS cautioned that the country could not afford to ignore the dangers posed by hate speech, particularly when amplified by political figures.

He stressed that leaders have a greater responsibility to foster unity, warning that those who use divisive language for political gain will face consequences.

“We know that the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) have recommended certain people to be charged.

"In some instances, some of them have rushed to court to block their arrest, citing the exercise of constitutional freedoms of speech. But we continue dealing with these issues. Nobody is above the law,” Murkomen stated.

He, however, stopped short of naming the individuals he described as notorious, instead insisting that investigations and legal processes would determine their accountability.

According to the CS, any person found to be engaging in hate speech will be dealt with decisively, regardless of their political or social standing.

Murkomen’s remarks come at a time when security agencies are intensifying efforts to monitor public rallies, political gatherings, and online spaces where hate speech is often propagated.

The NCIC has repeatedly warned that inflammatory rhetoric remains one of the major threats to national cohesion as the country gears up for future elections.

The Interior CS reiterated the government’s commitment to safeguarding national unity and protecting citizens from divisive rhetoric, saying hate speech has no place in Kenya’s democracy.