Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga has opposed plans to outlaw ‘hustler vs dynasties’ campaign slogans.
The former prime minister faulted a section of MPs who are seeking to criminalise the slogan used by Deputy President (DP) William Ruto and his allies.
According to Raila, Parliament’s National Security Committee is planning on tabling a bill that proposes severe fines, jail time and removal from office for any leader who propagates the narrative.
While Raila acknowledges that ‘hustler vs dynasty’ narrative is dangerous for project Kenya, he maintains that criminalising it will be an infringement of freedom of free speech and association, as enshrined in the Constitution.
Raila is now urging to the MPs to drop their attempts to legislate against “this otherwise deadly slogan.”
“As a country, we fought for, and should respect free speech and association. We should be able to allow DP and his team to continue with their chosen slogan without any inhibitions,” says Raila. “Those of us who see its dangers should continue educating our people against failing for it. I have faith that Kenyans will see through this divisive and potentially deadly rhetoric and its attacks on fellow Kenyans, and reject it in the end.”
Comparison with Nazism
Raila equated the ‘hustler vs dynasty’ narrative to Adolf Hitler’s National Socialism (often referred to as Nazism).
He drew similarities of the Tangatanga politics to ideologies of the German dictator, which profiled Germans on the lines of race, social classes and tribe.
“These ideologies caused a great deal of trauma to Germany and the world. They ended in holocaust. I fear “hustler vs dynasties” narrative will have the same deadly consequences for Kenya as Nazism did for Germany,” added Raila.
