The National Cohesion and Integration Commission has refuted claims by blogger Cyprian Nyakundi that it is planning to ban the use of the term 'tugege'.
Tugege is a Kikuyu word describing a person who is ignorant or dumb. Tugege is taken from the Kikuyu word 'gega' which means to stare at something non-stop as if absent-minded.
NCIC urged all Kenyans to ignore the reports going around social media saying the commission will soon ban the use of the word.
"We wish to correct the information being peddled through social media to the effect that the NCIC is planning to ban the term "Tugege". The Commission disassociates itself from these allegations. Kindly ignore them," the commission said.
Nyakundi on Wednesday in a post on X alleged that NCIC will be banning the use of the word adding that those who will use it will face prosecution.
"NCIC is alleged to be planning to ban the use of the term 'Tugege' after complaints from some leaders. Those who use it will likely face arrest and prosecution," he said.
The word was trending on X for the better part of Wednesday morning.
Some Kenyans on X said 'tugeges' are people who voted for the current regime which they feel is not delivering on its mandate.
NCIC is mandated to promote national unity in the country.
As a result, NCIC facilitates processes and policies that encourage the elimination of all forms of ethnic discrimination irrespective of background, social circle, race, and ideological belief(s).
During the campaign period last year in April, NCIC moved to ban a number of terms from being used. Among them was hatupangwingwi which loosely translates to 'we cannot be dictated'.
NCIC also banned the use of the word madoadoa which loosely translates to stains.
The commission banned the words on the grounds that they amount to hate speech.
Other words that the commission banned were fumigation, uncircumcised, mende, kama mbaya mbaya, and operation linda kura.
NCIC chairman Samuel Kobia said the words were not to be used again in public rallies, social media posts, and political talk shows.
At the time, the words were being used in an inflammatory manner during speeches by politicians.