Church leaders have been challenged to stop politicians from turning places of worship into platforms for hate speech and incitement, with the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) urging them to switch off microphones when political messages cross the line.
NCIC chairperson Bishop Dr Kepha Nyamweya Omae said religious leaders have the authority and responsibility to prevent politicians from using church services to push messages that could fuel hatred, division and tension ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Omae said church leaders should be bold enough to confront political leaders who misuse worship platforms, insisting that remaining silent should not be taken as acceptance of harmful messages.
“Servants of God, I want to implore you that in case a politician comes to your Church in the name of worship but actually with a hidden motive, you have the right to stop such a leader from uttering narratives which are of hate speech and incitement,” Omae said.
He pointed to instances where church technical teams have cut off microphones when politicians attempted to use church platforms to deliver inappropriate messages.
“You have the power, like some of us have done, where actually the technical crew that provides sound switches off the microphone and the man of God takes his mic and continues with the service,” he said.
The NCIC chairperson urged religious leaders to use their influence to protect national unity and ensure churches do not become venues for political messages that could divide communities.
He also raised concern over the growing use of digital platforms to spread hate speech, misinformation, disinformation, propaganda and inflammatory political messages, particularly as the country heads towards the 2027 elections.
Omae warned social media users that hate speech posted online is subject to the same law as hate speech delivered verbally. He said people should not assume that using anonymous accounts or hiding behind a keyboard would shield them from legal action.
“The law that applies to hate speech that is verbalised applies to hate speech written on social media. Hiding behind the keyboard will not protect perpetrators from being sought and investigated with a view to prosecuting them,” he said.
Omae said the commission was already working with different stakeholders to address the spread of harmful content online, adding that those responsible could still be identified and investigated for possible prosecution.
He further called on politicians to take responsibility for their public statements, warning that careless remarks by political leaders could create hatred and trigger destruction.
“Let us have responsibility in speech and call on the political class to train their tongues, as once wrongly used has a potential of igniting hatred that could lead to destruction,” he said.
The remarks come as faith leaders, the NCIC and other stakeholders step up preparations for the 2027 electoral period amid concerns over hate speech, misinformation, disinformation, political competition and the use of identity to mobilise communities.
Omae urged religious leaders to take a firm position against harmful political narratives and use their platforms to promote national cohesion, rather than allowing places of worship to become spaces for messages that could deepen divisions.
He said religious leaders must have the courage to act when political leaders cross the line, stressing that their silence should not be viewed as weakness.