‘Hatupangwingwi’ Declared Hate speech. DP Ruto Has Released A Campaign Song With The Term

NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 8- Deputy President William Ruto has released a campaign song dubbed hatupangwingwi on a day the National Cohesion and Integration Commission flagged down the term as hate speech.

It was included in a lexicon of other words termed hate speech by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission on Friday.

The lexicon of words was released by NCIC chairperson Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia, saying politicians must not use them during this electioneering period.

“Violence-Free Elections ahead of the August 2022 polls remains our core business. We have intensified our programs to ensure this goal is attained. We call for an end of divisive talks and call for political tolerance,” he said.

It is worth noting that there is a song by the name ‘hatupangwingwi’, by three artists among them Tri Mio.

Already, a section of politicians have questioned NCIC’s move to flag down the sheng word, wondering how it promotes hate speech.

Other words flagged down by NCIC include Madoadoa, Operation Linda Kura, Mende, Kama Mbaya Mbaya, Mhajira and Fumigation.

The flagged down words are from different dialects spoken in the country including sheng.

For example the word fumigation, he said, is used against non-locals in various parts of the country.

The other term is uncircumcised, which the commission said is often used by politicians and their followers, to target communities that do not embrace circumcision as a right of passage.