Communications Authority Bans Bulk Messages In Ethnic Dialects Ahead Of General Elections

Political parties in Kenya have been barred from sending premium content and bulk messages in ethnic dialects.

The Communications Authority of Kenya and the National Cohesion and Integration Commission issued the ban as part of a plan by the government to crack down on hate speech on social media and through SMS in the build-up to the August 8 General Election.

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They come a month after Samburu Governor Moses Lenolkulal urged security organs and the Communication Authority to closely monitor and reign in on people who use social media for the wrong purpose.

“This being the election season, some aspirants may opt to disrupt peace by hurling insults at their political opponents something which is likely to inflame passions and pit supporters of different political camps against each other,” Lenolkulal said.

He noted that in the past, a large number of politicians had benefited from tarnishing the reputation of their opponents and with the emergence of social media, it has been very easy to accomplish.

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The new regulations now stipulate that political parties will communicate only through the official and national languages which are English and Kiswahili respectively. It is also bound to affect communication strategies of most political parties in the country whose support base is at grass root level and rely on bulk messages in ethnic dialects to communicate.

According to the new regulations, Content Service Providers are now required to provide Mobile Network Operators with authorization documentation from political parties which in turn will require approval from the authority. A process which could take up to five days.

The regulation reads:

“Prior to sending a Political Message, CSPs shall make a request to an MNO/MVNO at least forty-eight (48) hours before sending the message, MNOs and MVNOs have at least 18 hours to give a decision after receiving the request and the MNO/MVNO has the right to refuse the transmission of a proposed Political Message over its network that it views not to be in compliance with these guidelines.”