National Cohesion and Integration Commission’s (NCIC) has has banned the use of hate words during the campaign period.
‘Hatupangwingwi’ was one of the phrases unveiled by the commission chairman Samuel Kobia among words that can incite hate.
The phrase was derived from the song ‘sipangwingwi’ composed by musician Tom Kinyanjui alias X-ray alongside Mario Kasela popularly known as Trio Mio.
The song is associated with DP Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza alliance as they have used it to show defiance urging their supporters not to accept leaders imposed on them.
Azimio
Gengetone sensation Trio Mio performed the song as Azimio la Umoja flag bearer Raila Odinga launched his campaign.
On the other hand musician X-ray performed the track last month during Ruto’s endorsement as UDA presidential candidate.
The song was a major breakthrough for the artists being a theme song in the campaigns of the major rivals in the presidential election.
Ban on the use of the word ‘hatupangwingwi’ may signal the death of the popular song, as playing it would be associated to defiance.
Among other word banned include;
- Elimination
- Madoado
- Kill
- Fumigation
- Cockroach/mende
- Kihii (uncircumcised man)
- Uthamaki ni witu
- Mwiji (uncircumcised man)
- Kimurkeldet (Brown teeth, to refer to Kikuyu in Rift valley)
- Otutu Labotonik (uproot the weed)
- Ngetiik (uncircumcised)
- Kama mbaya ni mbaya
- Operation linda kura