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Kikuyu elders trash Kidero’s ban on vernacular use in rallies

By MWANGI MUIRURI February 24th, 2017 1 min read

Kikuyu Council of Elders now wants Nairobi Governor Dr Evans Kidero to rescind his intended crackdown on use of vernacular language in public rallies.

The council’s chairman Mr Wachira Kiago said the order is targeted at politicians from the community who are gunning for the Nairobi gubernatorial seat.

“It is not a crime to speak in your mother tongue,”  Mr Kiago said at a media briefing on Thursday.

He cited rticle 7 (3) of the constitution and Article 44 that state that “the State shall promote and protect the diversity of language of people of Kenya and promote the development and use of indigenous languages…”

City Hall’s head of devolved units John Ntoiti had on Thursday directed city askaris to arrest politicians who address rallies in the city in vernacular languages.

Those arrested will face charges of being a public nuisance and incitement.