Television and radio stations in Kenya have been warned not to play three vernacular songs that pledge support for politicians, or risk being fined up to $12,000.

This is according to Kenya’s National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), which last week launched investigations into three Kikuyu songs being played on air.

The songs are Uhuru ni Witu (Uhuru is Ours) by Kamande Wa Kioi, Hague Bound by Muigai Wa Njoroge, and Mwaka wa Hiti (The year of the hyena) by John Demathew.

The lyrics of Kamande wa Kioi's song Uhuru ni Witu has been interpreted to have this meaning:

"Greetings people of the house of Gikuyu and Mumbi. I bring you a message from all Kikuyu musicians. This is a message from God. Uhuru is the Moses of the Kikuyu nation. He is meant to move Kikuyus from Egypt to Canaan. Do not agree to be divided. Let all votes go to him. He is ours. He is anointed by God, poured oil on.”

The chair of the commission Mzalendo Kibunjia said the songs, which praise deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, violated the National Cohesion and Integration Act.

Kibunjia has asked the Media Council of Kenya, the media regulator, to supply the commission with a log of all media houses that have aired or played the songs.

“The era of such music is long gone,” said Kibunjia.

The commission chair has also appealed to Kenyans who may have heard the songs playing on air to complain to the body.

Meanwhile, the songs have elicited fury on social media websites.

Uhuru Kenyatta's campaign team has used social networking site Facebook to distance itself from the musicians and condemn their work.

“We would like to strongly point out that if this is what certain vernacular musicians are doing, regardless of the language and community, we truly stand against it!

"For the good of Kenya as a whole watch out for certain acts and base your votes on and NOT tribal affiliations/individuals,” the statement read.

The media, especially radio stations that broadcast in vernacular language, were accused of fueling the 2008 Post Election Violence.

One of the four suspects facing trial at the International Criminal Court at the Hague in connection with the 2008 violence is journalist Joshua San'g, who worked for popular Kalenjin-language radio station KASS FM as a DJ.

Sang has been accused of using his radio show in 2007 both to gain support and also to communicate by code to other people interested in committing crimes against supporters of the Party of National Unity (PNU) , in terms of when and where to commit attacks.

The NCIC was established after the 2008 post poll violence with the mandate of promoting long lasting peace and harmonious coexistence among Kenyans.