By AGGREY MUTAMBO
Chief Justice Willy Mutunga has warned about the “drumbeats of possible violence” in the next elections and called on civil society to “save us from this precipice”.
Dr Mutunga, who spoke at the launch of a democracy campaign programme in Nairobi, said there were signs politicians looking to the next elections are inciting people on ethnic lines. He said such people should be tamed before it is too late.
The programme targets 11 civil society groups, including the National Council of Churches of Kenya, and is sponsored by the Swedish Embassy to run till end of 2017.
“As we head towards elections, the drums of possible violence are being beaten … and if you haven’t heard them, then you don’t know anything about this country.
The CJ acknowledged that the issues of corruption and public finance management require a “serious mental shift” by leaders for Kenyans to benefit from the Constitution, but warned every progress made could be undone with hate speech.
“Only a strong social movement will save us from this precipice,” he added.
Dr Mutunga, who also doubles up as the President of the Supreme Court, urged civil society and the media to pile pressure for action to be taken against those who have started engaging in hate speech as a deterrence.
“The civil society groups brought together on this programme should constitute themselves into a social social movement and become a beacon for other movements that are under a united, democratic, peaceful and progressive country,” he said.
The view was echoed by representatives of protestant churches who said the government must do more to discourage hate speech both on social media and in public rallies.
“Kenya remains divided along ethnic lines. One of the factors causing the strong ethnic identity situation is that tribes are used as channels to acquire resources; political mobilisation and address problems. One’s ethnicity opens doors, and also closes some,” Rev Peter Karanja, the general-secretary of the National Council of Churches of Kenya, told the gathering.
“As the country prepares for a general election in 2017, there must be convincing engagement on national values dialogue and work very seriously to enhance cohesion,” he added.
A number of politicians have recently been accused of making inflammatory remarks deemed as hate speech or meant to incite Kenyans.
