Nairobi, KENYA: National Cohesion and Intergration Commission has warned Whatsapp group administrators over allowing hate messages through the platforms they mann, indicating that they risk arrests as the country gears up to the August 8th polls.
Speaking in a forum in Nairobi on Monday, NCIC chair Francis Ole Kaparo said that the government is closely monitoring whatsapp groups which propagate hatespeech,warning that the administrators of such group will bear the brunt of such hate messages.
“We have identified 21 county whatssapp platforms that have already been encouraging incitement across the country and the way to deal with them is to deal with individualls, the administrators of those social media accounts.”Kaparo said.
“ Tell the administrators we are coming for you.“He added.
His sentiments were echoed by the acting Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiangi who insisted that the government will not allow such tendencies meant to divide the country.
Communication Authority of Kenya director Francis Wangusi said that the government will be closely monitoring all communication platforms in bid to minimize instances of hatespeech which might plunge the country into chaos.
“All the platforms are under watch,be it the telecommunication platform ,we are watching them ,the media platform ,social media platforms ,so anybody who happens to send the hatespeech messages through whatever platform that you use will be able to know you and bring it down.”Wangusi said.
