Kenyan Government Investigating Hate Speech On 176 Social Media Accounts

The Kenyan government have identified and are said to be investigating 176 social media accounts propagating hate speech.

The Communications Authority of Kenya said 31 cases are under prosecution across the country ahead of the elections.

CA Director General Francis Wangusi in a statement on Friday reiterated the warning to administrators of social media platforms that they will be held liable for any hate speech remarks.

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Wangusi said any person contravening the NCIC act 2008 which outlaws discrimination on ethnic grounds is liable for a fine of one million or imprisonment of three to five years or both.

Wangusi said it shall be the responsibility of the administrators of social media platform to moderate and control the content and discussions generated on their platform.

“Bloggers, online news sites, political leaders and their followers should exercise discretion during the electioneering period,” he said.

“Administrators of social media platforms will be held liable for any hate speech posts allowed in their forums.”

He said the use of social media platforms for political advertisement shall also be done in adherence to the electoral laws of Kenya.

“…the authors of political messages should be disclosed and all Idea should be polite, truthful and respectful,” he said.

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Wangusi further said website administrators should authenticate and validate the source and truthfulness of content.

This was after a study by Portland and GeoPoll mobile surveying platform reported that 9 out of 10 Kenyans have seen fake news on WhatsApp and Facebook ahead of the August 8 elections.

“Prior to publishing, to limit the information that might spread rumors, mislead or incite people to violence, content authors should correct content that is established as false or misleading,” Wangusi said.

He further urged broadcasters to manage their social media sites in a proactive maer to avoid posting of divisive and undesirable user generated content.

“Broadcasters are advised to exercise caution during this sensitive period to avoid giving hate mongers a platform to propagate hate speech, ethnic contempt, and incitement to violence.”