Kenya: ethnic incitement through music

The song ‘Ikamba’ which went viral on Sunday was composed in the Kikuyu language by Isiah and Waharakare after Kitui county governor, Charity Ngilu, banned charcoal and sand trading. It is alleged that a majority of charcoal traders are Kikuyus.

KFCB through its CEO, Ezekiel Mutua, has banned the song for being insightful. In a series of tweets and a Facebook post, Mutua said the song amounts to incitement, violence and hate speech against the Kamba community.

“My attention has been drawn to a new kikuyu song by Isaiah and Waharaka titled ‘Ikamba’ that mocks the Kamba community and castigates Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu,” read a post by Mutua published on Sunday. “The song is offensive and distasteful. Its translation and real meaning and objective is to mock one community and deride its members over the ongoing controversy on charcoal burning in Ukambani.”

The post continues: “The song is in bad taste as it generalizes the acts of a few individuals to malign and deride a whole community in the foulest language,” he said. “This video therefore should be suspended forthwith and the two musicians, the producers and distributors arrested and charged with hate speech and incitement to violence.”

“In the meantime, the song should not be aired on any media platform or distributed in any frontier. Anyone found in possession of the same will be charged for being an accomplice to a crime.

The video of the song begins with the two musicians eating mangoes, a fruit that is largely produced by the Kamba community. The duo then move to ask what the Kamba community will eat now that the mango season is over - they suggest that the community members will now feed on dogs and wild birds such as parrots.

According to Mutua the two musicians have gone against the provisions of Article 33 of the constitution on freedom of expression which states that “The right to freedom of expression does not extend to: propaganda for war, incitement to violence, hate speech or advocacy of hatred that constitutes ethnic incitement, vilification of others or incitement to cause harm or is based on any ground of discrimination specified or contemplated in Article 27 (4).”

The issue sparked mixed reactions from the general public who commented on Mutua’s post. Francis Runyiri Njoroge wrote: “I have listened to this song but I want to assure you it’s a very irritating song so irritating! Kamba and Kikuyu's have lived in peace since then, please let's stop this kind of songs and incitement.”

“I have seen how Tanzania punishes artists who are not compliant and I think KFCB should pick such policies,” Graham Kajilwa wrote. “If an artist is not compliant, he or she is prohibited from releasing an update song or performing in the country like it happened to Roma Mkatoliki in Tanzania just a few days ago.”

“I hope you issued such comprehensive and strong worded statement against the governor who fuelled the ethnic hatred,” wrote Kariithi Solomon.

There were also reactions from politicians and the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) which is currently investigating the case.

Speaking to a local publication, NCIC chairman, Francis ole Kaparo said that his officers were looking into the content of the song.

"The matter is seriously being investigated by both the NCIC and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID,” Kaparo said. “I expect feedback shortly. In the meantime, I appeal for calm and urge all Kenyans to avoid irresponsible and reckless incitements."

Kenyan politician, Wavinya Ndeti also commented on the matter and said, “It is disrespectful of the highest order and we demand for immediate arrest of those behind the mockery song,” Ndeti said. “The police and the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) must do thorough investigations and establish the people behind the disgraceful song.”

If arraigned in court, Isaiah and Waharaka will join a list of three other Kikuyu musicians, John DeMathew, Muigai wa Njoroge and Kamande wa Kioi who in 2012 where charged with inciting hatred between President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Kikuyu tribe and former opposition leader, Raila Odinga’s Luo tribe.

Ngilu on 17 January, banned burning of charcoal in her county and called for a crackdown on anybody found burning or ferrying charcoal from the area saying that charcoal burning was killing the economy and destroying the environment.

“You have a duty to protect the environment so stop being enticed to cut down trees by charcoal merchants because the county is fast becoming bare and dry” she told the public at a rally on 18 January.

However, the crackdown by the residents turned ugly when a charcoal truck was burnt by youth at Kanyonyoo, on the Mwingi-Thika-Nairobi highway, on February 8.

This incident drew hostile reactions the Kikuyu politicians who saw it as an attack towards their tribe. NCIC was asked to probe Ngilu on incitement. She appeared in front of the NCIC committee on 20 February and denied the claims.

Not certified, the politicians through Kiambu county governor Ferdinand Waititu, filed a petition on Monday at the Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi seeking to alter Ngilu’s decision to ban charcoal and sand trading in her county.

Waititu submitted that Ngilu’s stand on the ban has resulted in malicious damage “Nowhere does the Charcoal Management Act in Kitui say a vehicle carrying charcoal should be burnt” Waititu said “Her actions were malicious and reckless. She should be ordered to stop inciting the public against innocent traders.”

Here is a video of Ngilu commenting on the matter.