The Inspector General of the National Police Service, Douglas Kanja, appeared before the Senate Committee on National Cohesion, Equal Opportunity and Regional Integration over the rising cases of inflammatory utterances by public figures and political leaders across the country.
In a submission before the senators, Kanja was replying to a statement sought by nominated Catherine Mumma over the burning issue.
Making his submission, the IG said that the statements made by politicians have the potential of undermining the unity of the country.
“The increasing incidence of inflammatory utterances made by public figures and political leaders. Such statements have the potential to undermine national cohesion, incite ethnic tensions, and destabilize peace and security,” Kanja said.
“The Service remains committed to its constitutional mandate of maintaining law and order, preserving peace and protecting the unity of our nation.”
Kanja told the senators that the country has recently witnessed a notable surge in inflammatory rhetoric, especially during political rallies, public meetings, radio interviews and across digital platforms.
He added that in recent times, the country has witnessed a notable surge in inflammatory rhetoric, especially during political rallies, public meetings, radio interviews, and across digital platforms.
The IG warned that the rapid spread of digital communication has exacerbated the situation, saying the rapid spread of digital communication has made such statements more pervasive, requiring enhanced investigative and preventive interventions.
Kanja told the senators that the Service has been working closely with the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) to investigate and enforce provisions of the National Cohesion and Integration Act through joint operations that include receiving and analyzing complaints, gathering evidence, arresting suspects, and preparing prosecution files in collaboration with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
According to Kanja, over the last year, the National Police Service, in collaboration with NCIC, recorded and investigated twelve cases relating to inflammatory utterances and related offences across various parts of the country.
“The National Police Service continues to monitor and investigate cases of inflammatory utterances involving influential public figures and political leaders,” Kanja warned.
The IG, however, acknowledged several challenges affecting enforcement efforts.
“Foreign-hosted social media accounts beyond national jurisdiction, politicization of enforcement efforts to whip public emotions, delayed reporting of incidents, viral amplification of misleading content within minutes, anonymous and pseudo accounts that conceal identities and fragmented response to online threats and coordinated misinformation campaigns that distort public perception.”
Despite these hurdles, IG Kanja reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to impartial enforcement of the law, warning that inflammatory utterances pose a significant threat to national unity.
“The Service remains committed to ensuring that all cases involving inflammatory utterances are investigated impartially and in accordance with the Constitution and the laws of Kenya,” Kanja warned.
“The rise in inflammatory utterances poses a real threat to national cohesion and peace, and decisive action is required to maintain public order and safeguard national unity and stability.”
Senator Mumma demanded to know how the service is prepared to curb AI usage in the forthcoming general election, saying that they may cause violence.
IG said, ‘’We shall give out our necessary support, and we assure you that our team will ensure women candidates are protected to sell their agendas well.
According to the police boss, the emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has forced more officers to venture into training.
"On the matter of AI, it is a new technology, and we are prepared. We shall recruit and train more officers, and we will ensure more training to fight the AI menace."
Senator Mohammed Chute affirmed to the service that they will give support whenever needed to help end the menace.
"We are ready to accord you all the support to ensure we end the issues of inflammatory talks. We shall be forced to amend some Acts to resolve the tussles and hurdles,’’ Chute advised.
