ODM leader Raila Odinga has been summoned by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) over alleged hate speech remarks.
Odinga, who is eying the presidency in the August elections, is required to appear before the commission to shed light on the “madoadoa” remarks he made during a political rally in Wajir on Wednesday.
NCIC Chairman Samuel Kobia in a statement says the term “madoadoa” is considered hate speech in the country.
“In his remarks, he mentioned the term ‘Madoadoa’ which is considered a hate speech term in Kenya,” says Kobia.
Kobia reiterated the commission’s commitment to continue to advocate for harmony and peaceful co-existence of persons of different ethnic and racial communities ahead of the upcoming elections.
“The Commission wishes to assure Kenyans of its commitment to curbing any form of hate speech, to ensure Kenya remains a stable, prosperous and cohesive nation, and to deliver on our promise of peaceful elections,” he added.
During the rally, Odinga urged Wajir residents to reject ‘madoadoa’ and only elect aspirants allied to the Azimio La Umoja coalition.
“Kuwa mwanajeshi wa baba lazima ukuwe na bunduki na risasi. Bunduki ni kitambulisho risasi ni kura. Tunataka candidates wote wachaguliwe ndani ya Azimio. Hatutaki madoadoa hapa Wajir,” Raila said.
Deputy President William Ruto’s allies have been calling for the arrest of Odinga, citing the arrest and prosecution of Meru Senator Mithika Linturi for using the same terminology.
“To demonstrate rule of law and in particular equality before the law, let Directorate of Criminal Investigations – DCI and office of the Director of Public Prosecutions act as swift as in the case of Mithika Linturi,” Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen said through Twitter.
It is alleged that the ‘madoadoa’ phrase was used stir ethnic hate that led to the 2007/2008 post-election skirmishes that claimed 1,100 lives and saw over 600,000 people displaced.
Bullshit. Raila is not…
Bullshit. Raila is not talking about ethnic groups. He is asking residents to vote Azimio candidates down the ballot and not mix it up with other parties/coalitions. How on earth is that hate speech? He is promoting his coalition irrespective of who the candidates are!
With due respect to our…
With due respect to our children, this government is run like a kindergarten class. Raila should NOT be arrested or sermoned for using the word madoadoa in as much as similarly Linturi used it. It’s common knowledge that the madoadoa has not been in itself criminalized. The context for which the two leaders in so far cannot be construed to mean hate speech. Far from it.
In fact Linturi should be suing the incompetent so called law administrators for wrongful arrest.
@Asista heard you were one…
@Asista heard you were one of the advisors of Arap Mashamba during his visit to US. Did you lead him to believe he was visiting the white house while infact he was at Eisenhower building.
Lol Eisenhower Bld ?. But…
Lol Eisenhower Bld ?. But you well know the building hosts the Executive office of the president, White House Office among others.
I liken what RAO said to…
I liken what RAO said to that of a lawyer in court saying something that the judge strikes out,and orders the jury to ignore it.How could the jury ignore a fact that John Doe molested a child 25 years ago even if the judge tell them to ignore?
Raila knows very well that “Madoadoa” is a politically if not tribally charged word,especially as elections get closer.But if that word could garner him political points,he would use it.And that’s what he did.
Yes nothing was out of context here.Raila is “guilty as charged”. And it was a cheap shot.
Kobia’s titles,Dr & Rev seem…
Kobia’s titles,Dr & Rev seem to be useless as his poop/money minting commission.Kobia with his PR orders should first tell hungry billionaire Kenyans any case the commission successfully investigated/prosecuted before he summons ABOVE THE LAW PRIME MURDERER,Raila.Last week a court dismissed a similar case as the charges were defective.Kobia’s degree might be the same NDIGIRI he rears in Kirinyaga if he doesn’t know the meaning of SWAHILI word MADOADOA.
..more like coded message…
..more like coded message…. .bunduki, risasi, madoadoa. True leaders pay attention to their choice of words…the connotation of such word’s ad madoadoa, risasi etc…leave a lot to be desired.
..more like coded message…
..more like coded message…. .bunduki, risasi, madoadoa. True leaders pay attention to their choice of words…the connotation of such word’s ad madoadoa, risasi etc…leave a lot to be desired.
PROVOKING THE AMYGDALA
It is…
PROVOKING THE AMYGDALA
It is inappropriate for a presidential candidate to use words that have considerable amount of emotional baggage. The use of words such words in public meetings can trigger the amygdala (the aggression center in the limbic system in our brains responsible for anger, violence, fear, and anxiety).
“NCIC (National Cohesion and Integration Commission) Chairman Samuel Kobia in a statement says the term “madoadoa” is considered hate speech in the country.”
Freedom of speech includes the choice of lexical items (vocabulary) that do not trigger the amygdala.
Brother Raila should be barred from running for the presidency of Kenya for his irresponsible choice of loaded words in his speech in Wajir.
When Lintuli says it, he is…
When Lintuli says it, he is arrested. When Raila says it, he is misquoted. Raila is the mother of all violence in Kenya.
Madoadoa is Ruto’s invention…
Madoadoa is Ruto’s invention term to kick Kikuyus from the Rift Valley. Raila meant for people not to vote for Ruto who calls others madoadoa. It’s not a secret that Ruto coined that term in 2007.
We are in times of…
We are in times of revelation and nothing and no one will be spared.
Raila just revealed his true colors.
He is all about violence. Why would he talk about Risasi and bunduki at the middle of campaign knowing the danger facing the Kenyans.
These are new times and violence will not make Raila the president.
It will work against him, infact this time around-violence will consume him.
This was not a mistake and just like they did Linturi, he should be arrested.
The truth is Raila is the king of violence in Kenya.
This time he will not be able to hide. There are those like ” Raila” who think they are above the law. Yes they are above man’s law but not God’s law.
Those you are calling “Madoadoa”, God says, they are a people anto Myself!
They will not and cannot be ignored any longer!!
Let’s wait patiently.
“Ee mungu nguvu yetu”!!
Hebu tazameni mfano mwema wa…
Hebu tazameni mfano mwema wa aliyekuwa rais wa Uruguay Ndugu Jose Mujica alivyoishi na gari aliloendesha.
Je, kuna rais au waziri mkuu yeyote katika bara la Afrika anayeweza kuishi maisha yake?
https://youtu.be/JqhCAORmsaE
Hongera sasa Ndugu Mujica kwa kujitolea mhanga kuwahudumia raia wananchi wa Uruguay.
@ Ndugu Imara,thanks for a…
@ Ndugu Imara,thanks for a timely reminder to our leaders that there is integrity in being frugal.Especially when public funds are footing your life style.
Its so shameful to read about out Mpigs fighting to pass a bill that would afford them the latest models…
In my opinions, the ostentatious display of expensive “toys” by our leaders is driven by their narcissistic personalities.
Yes character matters.