Law Society of Kenya asks State to prosecute Kenyans spreading hate on social media

By Standard Digital Reporter

Nairobi, Kenya: The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has asked the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) to take action against perpetrators of hate speech on social media.

The LSK said that some posts on Facebook and Twitter are spreading hate speech that could plunge the country into ethnic chaos.

LSK Secretary/CEO Apollo Mboya, in a letter to the DPP Keriako Tobiko, singled out a Moses Kuria who has posted a series of inciteful posts on social media.

“The posts incite the public to violence targeted at a specific community and may very well constitute hate speech, which if not curbed may plunge the country into chaos,” Mboya said.

Section 13 of the National Cohesion and Integration Act makes it illegal for citizens to use threatening, abusive or insulting words, acts or materials liable to stir up ethnic hatred. Section 62 of the Act further outlaws speech intended to incite feelings of contempt, hatred, hostility, violence or discrimination against any person, group or community on the basis of ethnicity or race.

In the letter to the DPP, the LSK attached a screenshot of the Facebook wall of one Moses Kuria together with comments brought to its attention by concerned members of the public.

Mboya urged the DPP to exercise his constitutional responsibility by directing the Inspector General of the National Police Service to institute investigations on the social media posts.

“The Inspector General of the National Police Service should investigate the information and allegation of  criminal conduct and ensure those responsible are brought to account for their utterances,” Mboya said.