THE
National Cohesion and Integration Commission has begun preliminary
investigations against three Kikuyu musicians accused of propagating hate
speech in their songs of praise for deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta.
Commission chair Mzalendo Kibunja told the Star yesterday that an official
complaint was lodged with the commission last Friday. He said the commission
had obtained the audio and video recordings of the songs.
The
musicians under investigation are Kamande wa Kioi, Muigai Wa Njoroge and John
Demathew. The songs are Uhuru ni Witu (Uhuru is Ours) by Kioi, Hague
Bound by Wa Njoroge and Mwaka wa Hiti (The year of the hyena) by
Demathew. Kibunja said the commission will not hesitate to open charges
against the three as well as any media which has been playing the songs if it
is established that the songs have violated the National Cohesion and
Integration Act, .
The
commission will also seek to ban the songs if they are found to promote hate
speech. “We are waiting for an officially certified translation of the
songs from a certified translator. The translation should be in by the close of
business today or tomorrow and then we will announce next course of action.
This is a very serious matter,” Kibunja said.
He
said the commission has contacted the Media Council of Kenya in a bid to get a
log of all media enterprises which have been playing the songs. Section 62 of
the Cohesion Act criminalizes the dissemination of hate speech. The songs have
elicited mostly negative comments on social media with many condemning the
sentiments as provocative and inciteful.
Yesterday,
the secretariat of Uhuru's TNA party condemned the songs through its Facebook
page called 'Team Uhuru'. “We would like to strongly point out that if this is
what certain vernacular musicians are doing, regardless of the language and
community, we truly stand against it! Music in our respective languages is beautiful,
but when corrupted for an agenda that disunites Kenyans, it's shameful,"
said Team Uhuru. "For the good of Kenya as a whole watch out for certain
acts and base your votes on and NOT tribal
affiliations/individuals,” said the Facebook post.
Kioi's
song Uhuru ni Witu consoles Uhuru over the ICC trials. The DVD contains
splices of Prime Minister Raila Odinga, President Kibaki and retired President
Moi indicating that they are in support of Uhuru succeeding Kibaki. It also
shows the IDPs in camps and proceeding of the ICC trials at the Hague.
The
song says God will deal with the ICC and Uhuru should not get worried as it was
just a passing cloud. "Greetings people of the house of Gikuyu and
Mumbi. I bring you a message from all Kikuyu musicians. This is a message from
God. Uhuru is the Moses of the Kikuyu nation. He is meant to move Kikuyus from
Egypt to Canaan. Do not agree to be divided. Let all votes go to him. He is
ours. He is anointed by God, poured oil on.
Raila,
there is a call. Go to Mama Ngina’s house, a king has been born there. Once
there ask where Uhuru is seated and pour oil on him. Just like Samuel did for
David in the Bible. Stop chasing the wind Agwambo, go to Icaweri and anoint
Uhuru. You thump your chest about Hague, is Hague your mother’s? There is a
curse from God. Philistines who do not circumcise cannot lead Israel. When
Abraham stressed God, he was told to go get cut, even you General of Migingo,
your knife is being sharpened," say some of the translated song
lyrics.
Wa
Njoroge's Hague Bound song is presented as a question and answer
narrative.
Question:
What if you knew that you are being pushed to the Hague by an uncircumcised man
who wants to push you there and take over your wife and all your wealth? A man
who can do anything to ensure you are in problems.
Answer:
Then it is better to die. Things for men are not governed by an uncircumcised
man. I would kill him. Its better they increase my charges.
Question:
What would you tell your crying supporters as you are being shipped to the
Hague?
Answer:
I would tell them to pray for me and know I am being persecuted for my love
of my community.
Question:
When you get to Hague how you would ensure the white man does not cheat you?
Answer:
I would ask for proceedings to be done in Kikuyu.
Question:
When on the dock what would you be thinking of the uncircumcised man who is
the source of your predicament?
Answer:
I would ask God to forgive him. I would also ask that he gets circumcised so
that he matures mentally. I would also ask Kenyans to be very wary of that man.
Demathew's
song Mwaka wa Hiti describes 2012 as the year of the hyenas. It
cryptically refers to the tribulations of Uhuru, the son of Jomo. “As
Demathew I prophesize and let the stones hear me if men won't. It is now the
year of the hyena. Who will teach you and your ears are blocked? When a
man is seated he sees further than a boy on top of a tree. You are like a
greedy hyena seeing a man walk and following him hoping that his arm will drop
off. You follow him till he boards the train and the arm does not drop and you
never eat. Before Jesus was crucified, He stood in the court Judge Pilato
and he answered all questions, Judge Pilato said Jesus is free but the crowd
asked that a thief be freed instead.”
Where
are you from? If you were one of us, you would be pained by the people burnt in
Kiambaa church. My brother lost his property in Kisumu, how can you tell us he
is our community’s friend. Father I feel sad when I see your son being
persecuted by men of ill-will and a woman is carrying their bags," sings Demathew.
The Star
