The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) on Wednesday, September 27 refuted claims that it was planning to ban the use of the term ‘Tugege’.
The Commission distanced itself from the allegations in a Statement on their X app.
“We wish to correct the information being peddled through social media to the effect that the NCIC is planning to ban the term “Tugege”.
Also, NCIC asked members of the public to ignore the allegations.
“The Commission disassociates itself from these allegations. Kindly ignore them,” their statement read.
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NCIC made the clarification after reports went round that the commission was planning to blacklist the term following complaints from a section of leaders.
“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,” read the statement.
Origin of Tugege
The term tugege is used by users of X app to refer to the supporters and members of the Kenya Kwanza government from Mt Kenya.
It is a Kikuyu term that describes people who barely understand anything and when they do they support their leaders blindly even though they are the ones that are hurt by the actions of those who they are following.
It can also mean someone following another person blindly without knowing the destination. Tugege is the plural word of Kagege.
Moreover, the term became popular in the run up to 2022 elections and after President William Ruto took over power.
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In the 2022 campaign period, NCIC banned a number of words and phrases such as madoadoa, hatupangwingwi, chunga kura, Watajua hawajui’, operation Linda Kura, watu wa Kurusha mawe among others.
The commission’s chair Samuel Kobia said the terms were banned ahead of the elections because they were likely to encourage the use of hate speech.
“These words have been listed as a result of the commission monitoring conversations and following how they have been framed towards violence,” Kobia said at the time.
