Kenya's National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has deployed 400 observers to constituencies across the country to monitor hate speech and incitement of inter-ethnic conflict ahead of the March 4th elections, Kenya's The Standard reported Monday (February 18th).

Of the 400, 290 are police officers and 110 were selected from various peace organisations.

"Each and every constituency across the country will be supplied with a police officer in charge of monitoring hate speech," NCIC vice chairperson Milly Lwanga said in Eldoret, where 50 police officers were trained on how to use monitoring gadgets.

"The gadgets we have supplied will be used in recording such speeches, which will serve as evidence in a court of law," she said, adding that the NCIC is researching what constitutes stereotyping of communities.

The NCIC will also provide translators to identify hate speech in different dialects, said Assistant Police Commissioner Stanley Cheruiyot.

"We have beefed up security across the region and this time, we are expecting to hold peaceful elections because we have been training our officers on issues of security over the last one year," Cheruiyot said.