DPP Ingonga sets up special team to prosecute hate speech ahead of 2027 elections

The move comes amid rising concerns over political incitement, tribal bigotry and hooliganism, with the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) warning that the trend threatens national security ahead of the polls.

Speaking in Naivasha, Ingonga said the team was undergoing training and would be tasked with investigating and prosecuting individuals found engaging in hate speech and other election-related offences.

“We have set up a special team of prosecutors whose sole mandate is to investigate and prosecute perpetrators of hate speech and election-related offences. At the moment, the prosecutors are undergoing training, and we are ready to prosecute anyone who breaks the law. This includes hate speech cases being investigated by the NCIC. We are prepared and ready to deal with any perpetrators,” Igonga said.

The DPP also defended his office's decision to withdraw some criminal cases, insisting that such decisions must be supported by justifiable reasons and approved by the courts.

He dismissed claims that the DPP unilaterally withdraws cases, noting that the Constitution provides for a process that requires judicial oversight.

“There is no withdrawal of cases without justifiable reasons, which must be accepted by the court. Sometimes, the court declines to approve our withdrawal requests. It is therefore not the DPP who unilaterally withdraws cases; the Constitution provides for that process,” he noted.