Political leaders elicited strong reactions regarding the proposal to incriminate anyone who incites Kenyans along the 'hustler versus dynasty' narrative.
Siaya Senator and Senate Minority leader James Orengo opposed the National Cohesion and Integration Bill that has proposed a five-year imprisonment or Ksh5 million fine for anyone who instigates the 'hustler and dynasty' split.
Through the Parliament’s National Security Committee, Paul Koinange crafted the Bill which states, “A person who has been dismissed or removed from office for a contravention of sections 62(1) and 62A(1) is disqualified from holding any other State or public office.”
However, Orengo opposed it arguing that criminalising the hustler slogan is a threat to Kenya's democracy. He added that it was a form of free speech.
The Senator explained that past regimes used sedition laws to subject Kenyans into silence.
“To criminalise what somebody is saying is a great betrayal to the people of Kenya,” Orengo said.
According to Orengo, supporters of the Bill were
acting in an effort to oppose Deputy President Wiliam Ruto’s campaign slogan.
“This country has more pressing priorities than such proposals done out of political desperation. Let’s focus on matters that will uplift our people’s economy that is in ruin. Let them try not to fix political opponents using retrogressive proposals,” Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichungwah seconded Orengo’s sentiments.
Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua warning the National Cohesion and Integration Committee (NCIC) against presenting the bill for debate as he strongly opposed it.
"They want to misuse the law and silence us. We are not worried at all as the constitution clearly provides situations whereby the DP can be impeached and not through the backdoor like using this bill," Gachagua argued.
DP Ruto’s 2022 election strategy is based on the hustler narrative which has made his enemies accuse him of propagating a class war in Kenya.
The DP denied excluding those who are wealthy or who hail from privileged backgrounds, saying
that his policies would centre on including the people in decision-making without including violence.
He said, "I want to tell those opposing the narrative that they are the perpetrators of violence. They want to fund violence and later on blame the hustlers. They will be defeated. We do not have time for violence as we are focusing on making money and raising the economy through the hustlers. We are preaching peace."
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