As the country gets set to take part in the re-run of the presidential elections on Thursday, October 26, the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) and the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) have issued a strong statement to social media users.
The prolonged electioneering period has left several Kenyans with a degree of uncertainty ahead of the fresh poll.
Both the CA and the NCIC released a statement telling Kenyans that they will not condone social media websites that promote and spread hate speech during the election period.
“As the 26th October 2017 repeat Presidential election approaches, the attention of the two agencies has been drawn to the misuse of electronic communications networks, particularly the social media platforms to propagate hate speech and other undesirable content,” they said in a joint statement.
Read: Gatundu South Mp, Moses Kuria Arrested Over Hate Speech Remarks
Social media administrators, bloggers, and online news sites have all been asked to promote peace during this time and authenticate content before publishing it on their individual platforms.
“Hate messages have the potential to polarize the country along tribal lines, and to perpetuate fear and hate among Kenyans. CA and NCIC consider this kind of content irresponsible and injurious to peace, particularly in view of the impending elections.”
The two bodies added that social media admins that they will be held accountable for any incitement or hate speech they post on their social media platforms.
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