By The Weekly Vision Reporter
The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has summoned Busia County Governor Dr Paul Nyongesa Otuoma to appear before it on Friday, 21st August 2026, over remarks he is alleged to have made at a public rally.
In a formal summons dated 18th August 2026 and shared by the Commission, Otuoma is required to present himself at the NCIC offices on the 17th Floor, Britam Towers, Upper Hill, Nairobi, at 10:00 a.m., to assist with ongoing investigations into statements he is alleged to have made on or about 27th June 2026 at Bulanda Junction in Busia County.
The summons quotes portions of the contested remarks in the local dialect. The Commission says it is examining whether the statements amount to prohibited speech under the law; no finding has yet been made. A penal notice attached to the summons warns that failure to appear in person may result in warrants of arrest and the institution of criminal and/or contempt proceedings. The document is signed by NCIC Commission Secretary/CEO Dr Daniel Mutegi Giti, and copied to the Commission’s Chairperson, Bishop Dr Kepha N. Omae.
Otuoma is among a group of politicians facing independent NCIC investigations into utterances attributed to them, alongside former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and two Cabinet Secretaries, amid growing concern over rising ethnic tensions ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The governor is also facing growing political opposition within the county. Some members of the County Assembly have accused his administration of mismanaging funds allocated for ward-based projects, an allegation Governor Otuoma has not publicly responded to. Minority Leader Bonventure Makoha said: “Governor Otuoma must come clean on the whereabouts of the KSh19 million meant for development. These funds were allocated through the correct legislative process, but up to now, no work has begun on the ground.”
Public discontent has also surfaced in protests, including at a large funeral procession in June 2026 at which demonstrators expressed opposition to the governor.
Separately, the traditional Teso-Luhya power-sharing arrangement in the county is reported to have weakened, opening the field for challengers ahead of 2027, among them Arthur Osiya. Local UDA officials have voiced opposition to any endorsement of Otuoma, accusing senior party figures of creating confusion within county structures.
The latest summons comes amid heightened NCIC activity around political rhetoric ahead of the 2027 elections, with similar action recently taken against other politicians over alleged inflammatory statements. The NCIC has reiterated its commitment to fostering peaceful coexistence among Kenyans.
