Mohammed Hersi . A hotelier passionate about Tourism & Governance in Africa

Social media & freedom of speech and emergence of bloggers.

Freedom of expression is enshrined in our Constitution . Kenya is one of the very few countries where you can say anything under the sun without looking over your shoulders.
The constitution of Kenya 2010 under article 33 provides for the freedom of expression explicitly stating that every person has and shall enjoy this right.

✅️1.The ability and freedom to seek any information, to receive and impart ideas and information

✅️2. The right to express themselves through arts. (artistic creativity).

✅️3. The freedom to scientific research and academic freedom.
According to the constitution this right is not absolute and therefore there are certain limitations.

⛔️1. An expression that constitutes hate speech.

⛔️2. An expression that may incite people to violence.

⛔️3.An expression that advocates for hatred.

⛔️4. Expressions that are propaganda for war.
With social media political bloggers have popped up, majority have pushed their political agenda with decorum without necessarily going personal where you strip someone off their dignity which includes personal attacks beyond the office holder be it personal attacks on their children, spouse and even parents.

Well you’ll quickly say that if you feel aggrieved go to court and many sensible people have gone to court . The process is long and painful in itself. I have political friends and you can feel the personal pain when online writers or even vloggers go very personal.

My advice to our young people please be careful and don’t play to the gallery . Don’t fall for the online likes and thumbs up or the payments that is made to you for pushing such a narrative. When shit hits the fan you’ll be left alone. Mainstream media will never write the stuff some of these online bloggers write. They don’t do that not because they don’t have the financial muscles to pay fines but journalism has serious ethical rules that will not allow a media house to engage in such hence the term gutter press for those who print stuff and they have no known abode.

While the victims will be asked to file a case in court and many do , rest assured that someone close to the person you stripped off their dignity will like to get even and sometimes even without the knowledge of the aggrieved. We have people who wail more than the bereaved and these are the dangerous lot who are ready to maim or even kill.

While freedom of expression is enshrined in our constitution please keep in mind that when you go totally personal it means you are crossing a dangerous line. You can still write great opinion pieces without getting personal.

To the young men and women who push various political narratives please do it with decorum. Would you like to be attacked in such a manner if you were the subject?

Holding a public office comes with risks and you’ll be investigated and all sorts of opinions will be made about you. The notion that once you hold a public office you are now a public figure and anyone can throw mud at you in my opinion is abuse of freedom of expression in itself.

Ideally the aggrieved party may sue you while others or their associates may physically harm you. Yes the law may catch up with them , but what is the use if you end paying the ultimate price.

While freedom of expression is a fundamental right, it is crucial to exercise it responsibly. Understanding the boundaries and potential consequences of our speech helps create a more inclusive and respectful society where diverse viewpoints can be expressed without causing harm or infringing on the rights of others.

Please value your life and family , play clean and don’t strip people off their dignity.

Purely my thoughts and as always I choose to remain an optimist.

Mohammed Hersi