In an interview on local television stations, Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko portrayed a disturbing picture of poor leadership.

His insulting language requires an immediate response from the relevant State agencies.

While we are sure that his close friends will come out to defend him should any action be taken against him, they should open their eyes and see the danger they are exposing Kenyans to by covering up for leaders engaging in hate speech during this electioneering period.

Last week, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) assured Kenyans that they would work together to monitor hate speech ahead of the August 8 General Election.

We expect the agencies to carefully follow and record Sonko’s public utterances and step in when he crosses the line on hate speech.

Luckily, many of these are on public record.

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We then expect the DCI, IEBC, and NCIC to crack the whip on Sonko and bar him from the polls.