Here’s A List of Coded Phrases Linked to Hate Speech by NCIC

The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has raised concern over the rise of hate speech and incitement to violence on social media.

Since March 2022, NCIC Chairman Samuel Kobia notified the press that the Commission has flagged 12 instances for cyber forensic investigations.

“Indeed this is a rise compared to previous months. We have noted regroupings and new political forums in the social media platforms,” he said.

According to Kobia, 39 incidences of hate speech on social media platforms are being actively tracked.

“There are 49 cases under different stages of active investigation, 10 cases are before court reports at Communication Authority of Kenya and seven are pending conciliation,” he said.

The ongoing party nominations and the forthcoming general elections, according to Kobia, have resulted in a rise in animosity, hate speech, and incitement to violence.

Read: DPP Goes After MP Richard Onyonka Over Hate Speech Claims

“The main perpetrators of these are ardent followers of 2022 succession politics, largely Azimio and UDA followers,” he said.

This month, Kobia stated that the NCIC has identified seven incitement cases that it is investigating.

He stated that the commission is concerned about the number of cases reported on social media.

In the first week of March 2022, Facebook had 60% of the hate speech cases, while Twitter had 40%.

Week two saw a 79% increase on Facebook and a 21% increase on Twitter, while week three saw a 95.5% increase and a 4.5% increase, respectively.

In week four, there was 80% hate speech on Facebook and 20% on Twitter.

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Unrest in the country has also been sparked, according to Kobia, by the stoning of Raila Odinga’s helicopter and the shooting of Mvita UDA aspirant Ali Mwatsau.

The NCIC is also concerned about the number of Facebook groups that support various candidates while inciting tribal hatred and incitement.

Group Kenya, Azimio La Umoja Bungoma County Forum, Uasin Gishu County Forum, Baba the 5th!, Inawezekana, Azimio la Umoja, Group Kericho County are among the groups.

Others are Raila Odinga For President, The Marsabit County We Want, The Marsabit County We All Want, Members Voices of Change, The New Mamaans Borana, The Kalenjin Forum, Migori Revolutionist Council  and Lamu County Politics.

Inflammatory attacks, ethnic hatred, hate speech, political intolerance, and regional zoning, according to Kobia, have recently become the norm.

“We call on Kenyans to ensure that they embrace issue-based politics over tribal or any other form of divisive narratives,” he said.

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At the same time, NCIC has discovered phrases and tightly coded messages that can be exploited to foment hatred and intentionally exclude other groups.

According to Kobia, coded communications are written in English, Kiswahili, Sheng’, Kikuyu, Meru, and Kalenjin.

The terms can also be monitored on social media and in physical venues such as social gatherings and media outlets.

Fumigation, uncircumcised, eradicate, and kill are some of the words the commission highlighted.

The panel found words like kaffir (disbeliever), madoadoa (dots), chunga kura (secure votes), and mende in Swahili (cockroach).

According to Kobia, the term kaffir is a derogatory phrase that refers to non-Muslim groups, whereas Madoadoa is a term that refers to non-natives.

Read Also: Raila Summoned by NCIC Over Madoadoa Remarks

Other terms that the commission has flagged include watu wa kurusha mawe (people who throw stones) saying it refers to a community that is perceived to resolve their disputes by attacking others using stones.

Watajua hawajui (They will know that they do not know), wabara waende kwao (people from off the coast should go back to their homes), hatupangwingwi (No one can plan for us), kama noma, noma kama mbaya, mbaya (if it is bad, then it is bad).

Kikuyu word kihii (uncircumcised) has also been baned, with Kobia saying it is demeaning and aims to humiliate and terrorise not just men, but their entire communities.

Kobia said uthamaki ni witu (the kingdom is ours) has also been used to refer to the notion that the Kikuyu should remain as the ruling class.

In Kalenjin, words like Kimurkelde (brown teeth) have been termed by the commission as inciting.

Otutu labotonik (uproot the weed) and Ngetiik (uncircumcised) has also been flagged.