PH
Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua has said this country needs to be safeguarded and no one should be allowed burn it.
According to Mutua, Kenya could easily burn if leaders who spread hate among communities are not contained.
“The message should be very clear. No one should be allowed to burn Kenya.
“We have to safeguard the peace we enjoy in this country. There is no matter in this nation that should cause anyone to engage in violence. As I said a few months ago, if we continue on the same path of polarization, intolerance and violence, we will have a very violent election period of the 2017 polls,” Mutua said.
He took a swipe at leaders who have failed to call on their supporters to desist from violent protests that have continued to pose a threat to the country’s security.
“I strongly condemn utterances and actions that cause hate and inflame tension in our county. All citizens, and especially leaders, should be held to account and strong action taken, when they engage in hate speech and incitement, regardless of whichever political persuasion they come from. The law has to take its course without fear or favour. In the same vein, leaders whose followers and supporters engage in violence should also be held accountable and action taken against them.
“It is interesting to note that not a single leader whose followers have been throwing stones, carrying crude weapons, burning tyres and blocking roads has publicly issued a statement telling his or her followers to desist from the violent acts,” Mutua said.
He said their silence means that they support these violent acts and they may be the ones organising and funding them.
“These leaders only condemn the police and not their violent followers. This is hypocritical behavior,” Mutua said.
The Governor called on police to harshly deal with such leaders to ensure that Kenya remains peaceful.
“Our history has shown us that it is vital that planners and organizers of violence be held accountable. I call upon the Inspector General of Police and other relevant bodies to peruse the law and take necessary action so as to instill discipline in the behaviour of all leaders. No one should be spared. “Eneza chuki na ghasia uone (spread hate and face the music) should be the motto,” the Governor said.
H also called for action to be taken against perpetrators of hate on social media groups, saying they are being used to divide Kenyans along tribal lines.
