Ekuru Aukot: Ban Politicians from speaking vernacular in public
A respected lawyer and politician has suggested a law be put in place to bar national and elected leaders from speaking in vernacular in public.
Dr Ekuru Aukot made the suggestion on Twitter with his remarks generating mixed reactions.
I suggest that there be a ban on any national/elected leader who speaks in his/her mother tongue. They're simply inciting tribal feelings. https://t.co/JJUTqMhmiY
— Dr. Ekuru Aukot (@EAukot) January 10, 2023
If enforced, the ban will affect several politicians including President William Ruto and his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua.
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Gachagua in particular is known to retreat to speaking in his local dialect whenever he retreats to his Mount Kenya backyard.
Former president Uhuru Kenyatta was also known to frequently speak in vernacular in public.
Aukot, the Thirdway Alliance party leader, unsuccessfully contested for the presidency in 2017.
He finished a distant third in the particular race behind eventual winner Uhuru Kenyatta and second-placed Raila Odinga.
His attempt to contest again five years later did not bear fruit as the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commision (IEBC) announced he did not meet all the requirements to be cleared as a presidential candidate.
Aukot also played a vital role in the drafting of the 2010 constitution.
Tribal politics is rife in Kenya with politicians keen to lead the masses via tribal cocoons during the political season.
Tribal politics is also fingered by analysts as part of the reason for the 2007/2008 post-election violence in Kenya in which 1000 people lost their lives and hundreds of thousands were displaced.
Kenyans on Twitter (KOT) reacted to Aukot’s suggestion.
A leader speaking in his mother tongue while addressing a gathering of largely his Community shd be okay,provided he highlights major points in English or Kiswahili.Actually,its wrong to always speak English!
— Leonard Omullo Orondo (@LeonardOmullo) January 10, 2023
I do not agree with you Daktari. I think it depends where the leader is speaking and about what really. Let our mother tongue be.
— Joash Opiyo (@joashopiyo) January 10, 2023
Nope infact we should encourage Kenyans to learn different local languages….. Our diversity is what brings us together….
— Unlimited blessings! (@edujonah) January 10, 2023
Let conscience be the driver.
The only problem is when addressing an official function.
The ban would also contravene freedom of speech as enshrined in our constitution.
I am yet to hear our president use his mother tongue.— Mukiri Matigari (@MatigariMukiri) January 10, 2023