What’s dangerous, What’s not

Kagonya AworiUmati Research Lead

Background

What is Dangerous Speech

“Hate Speech with the potential to cause violence.”

Prof Susan Benesch, AU

Umati seeks to identify and understand the use of dangerous

speech in the Kenyan online space, in order to learn how to

prevent it’s potential effect on propelling violence on the

ground.

How to identify Dangerous Speech

1. Compare a group of people with animals,

insects or a derogatory term in mother tongue

black monkeys

headless chicken

kihii

madoadoa kigeugeu

maggots

chinkororo

nugujigger infested

kombamwiko

vulturessiafu

nzi

kombamwiko nyanga

u

blind donkeys

2. Suggest that some people are spoiling the

purity or integrity of the group

“Tunaondoa takataka za {party} ya zamani chafu kutoka kwa {party}.

KWENDA”

“..wats wrong wid ths community? God wat r u waitin for wid ths

evil,heartles,assasins in kenya? please clear 4 us this whole Gomorra

and sodom of kenya we are tired kindly!”

3. Suggest that the audience faces a serious

threat or violence from another group

“Killing all {name of party} leaders is the only way to prevent further

loss of innocent lives!!!”

“{religion} dont tolerate {religion}, any1 who have been 2 {place} can

testify, they rubbish {religion}. am ready also to bomb their {worship

place}, wakwende uko”

Calls to action inherent in DS

Discriminate,Loot, Riot, Beat,Forcefully evict,Kill

“From the little spark may burst a mighty flame”

- Dante

What can you do?

Limit the means of dissemination

Prosecute the speaker

Empower the audience to be immune to incitement

Discredit the speaker’s credibility

Break Out session

o How to create responsible online content

o The thin line between political speech and dangerous speech

o The link between the media and fueling dangerous speech

o Your experiences as online content creators