NAIROBI- The Inspector General of the National Police Service (NPS) has raised concern over the increasing prevalence of inflammatory utterances by public figures and political leaders, warning that the trend poses a serious threat to national cohesion and public order.
Appearing before the Senate Standing Committee on National Cohesion, Equal Opportunity and Regional Integration, chaired by Marsabit Senator Mohamed Chute,the Inspector General, Mr Douglas Kanja said the normalization of divisive rhetoric risks reversing gains made in fostering peaceful coexistence across Kenya’s diverse communities.
“As the country approaches the 2027 General Elections, a period of heightened political activity, the Service remains vigilant and committed to preventing incitement, hate speech and any i likely to disrupt national unity and stability,” he told the Committee.
The Inspector General noted that recent months have witnessed a surge in inflammatory remarks during political rallies, public meetings, media interviews and across digital platforms.
Kanja noted that, the statements have taken various forms, including ethnic stereotyping and insults, political incitement, dissemination of misleading information about government projects, and misuse of social media to spread misinformation and disinformation.
He warned that the rapid expansion of digital communication has amplified the reach and speed of such content, requiring enhanced investigative and preventive interventions.
Legal Framework and Enforcement.
The Inspector General said enforcement of the National Cohesion and Integration Act is jointly undertaken by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC).
Other laws guiding investigations include the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, 2018, the Penal Code and the Public Order Act.
“These laws empower the Service to investigate, arrest and facilitate prosecution of individuals engaged in hate speech, incitement, ethnic profiling and dissemination of harmful digital content,” he said.
Strengthened Collaboration with NCIC
The Inspector General highlighted structured collaboration between the NPS and NCIC, including the secondment of DCI officers to the Commission to enhance investigative capacity.
He said the two institutions jointly receive and analyze complaints, gather evidence, arrest suspects and prepare case files for prosecution in collaboration with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
In addition, the NPS Forensic Laboratory domiciled at DCI headquarters provides technical support in digital device extraction, authentication of online content, cyber-tracking of inflammatory statements and preparation of forensic reports for court proceedings.
Twelve Cases Investigated in One Year
Over the past year, the Service, in collaboration with NCIC, recorded and investigated twelve cases relating to inflammatory utterances and related offences across the country.
The offences under investigation include hate speech, ethnic contempt, incitement to violence, cyber harassment and dissemination of inflammatory content.
The Inspector General said the majority of the cases remain pending under investigation, while a few have progressed through the legal process.
“These cases demonstrate that inflammatory utterances continue to pose a real and emerging threat to national cohesion and peaceful coexistence, particularly when made by influential individuals whose statements carry significant public impact,” he said.
Among the challenges cited were foreign-hosted social media accounts beyond national jurisdiction, politicization of enforcement efforts, encrypted communication platforms, viral spread of misleading content, anonymous accounts and coordinated misinformation campaigns.
The Inspector General called for enhanced international cooperation, possible legislative review and sustained public awareness initiatives to address the emerging threats.
Going forward, the Service plans to deepen collaboration with NCIC and ODPP, enhance digital forensic infrastructure, strengthen early warning systems and expand public awareness campaigns on responsible communication.
He reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to maintaining professionalism and an apolitical approach in enforcing the law.
“The National Police Service remains steadfast in its commitment to uphold the law, preserve public order and safeguard national unity and stability,” he said.
Nominated Senator Catherine Mumma had raised concerns in a statement over the rise of inflammatory utterances by political and public figures..
