NCIC Declares Hatupangwingwi, Kihii, Mende and 22 Other Words as Hate Speech

The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has published a list of 25 words that are considered hate speech.

NCIC Chairperson Samuel Kobia, in a media briefing on Friday, said they classified the terminologies as coded messages that can be used to trigger ethnic hatred ahead of the August 9th elections.

"The NCIC has classified terms, which have been regularly used in Kenya’s political landscape with the intent to provoke violence among various communities of diverse political viewpoints,” said Kobia.

“We have classified these terms as coded messages which can be used to activate hatred and consciously eliminate other communities.”

The words are in various languages including English, Kiswahili, Sheng, Kikuyu, Kalenjin, Meru, and non-verbal nods.

Kobia stated that the commission is committed to ensuring a violence-free general election on August 9th.

“We have intensified our programs to ensure this goal is attained. We call for an end of divisive talks and call for political tolerance," he remarked.

English words listed by NCIC as hate speech include fumigation, uncircumcised, eliminate and kill.

Madoadoa, watu wa kurusha mawe, watajua hawajui, wabara waende kwao, kaffir, chunga kura, wakuja, chinja kafir, kwekwe, and mende, are the Swahili words in the hate speech list.

Sheng terms that are considered hate speech are kama noma noma, kama mbaya mbaya, operation linda kura and hatupangwingwi. 

Kikuyu terms in the list include kihii and uthamaki ni witu while Kalenjin words are kimurkeldet (brown teeth), otutu labotonik (uproot the weed), and ngetiik. Mwiji was the only Meru term in the list.
 
Kobia said the list shall be regularly updated for use in the social media tracking while those found using the said terms will be listed on NCIC’s wall of shame ahead of upcoming elections.

“The terms shall also be shared continually with the public in order to enhance their readiness and resilience against manipulation and polarization by political leaders and other influential persons intent is to incite communities against others,” he added.