Lawmakers allied to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua have criticised the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), accusing it of biased execution of its mandate following its recent warning against Gachagua.
Addressing a press conference, over ten MPs expressed regret that, despite various leaders making inflammatory remarks, the commission had singled out Gachagua, whose comments, they argued, did not amount to incitement but were factual.
They cited remarks made by Webuye West MP Dan Wanyama on 19th January during a presidential event at Cheptais Boys’ High School in Bungoma County, where he stated that the Mt Kenya community would be isolated by all other Kenyan communities. Despite the divisive nature of his statement, the lawmakers noted, no action had been taken against him.
Led by Senators Dan Maanzo (Makueni) and Joe Nyutu (Murang’a), alongside MPs Amos Mwago (Starehe), Jayne Kihara (Naivasha), Edward Muriu (Gatanga), and Onesmus Ngogoyo (Kajiado North), the legislators accused President William Ruto of weaponising the commission to serve his political interests.
Muriu stated: “Today, we are witnessing a situation where the NCIC has cautioned Rigathi Gachagua for calling out the President on fostering ethnic division and hatred as a political strategy. Ironically, what Gachagua has been doing is defending the rights and interests of the Mt Kenya region against isolation and exclusion from government based on their ethnic identity.”
He further claimed that President Ruto had embarked on a targeted war against ‘tribalism’, which was, in reality, aimed at silencing Gachagua and the broader Mt Kenya community. Muriu insisted that Gachagua was merely advocating for the fair treatment of the Mt Kenya region. “His (Gachagua’s) call against ethnic mobilisation of others against some is something we, as elected leaders, fully support. His opposition to the deliberate isolation of members of one community is not hate speech, especially given Kenya’s history in 2007, when we saw the ‘41 vs 1’ political strategy unfold,” he added.
Maanzo echoed these sentiments, arguing that Gachagua was merely highlighting the systematic exclusion of Mt Kenya professionals from government positions. “His call against deliberate isolation of a single community is not hate speech. It is, therefore, alarming that the NCIC is focusing on Gachagua’s concerns about ethnic discrimination rather than addressing the inflammatory and divisive remarks made by leaders, including the President, which continue unchecked,” Maanzo said.
Mwago reiterated this concern, stating: “It is troubling that the NCIC is focusing on the issues of ethnic discrimination raised by Gachagua rather than addressing the ethnically inflammatory remarks made by other leaders, including the President.”
Following these concerns, the lawmakers are now demanding that the NCIC apply its mandate uniformly, ensuring that all leaders—regardless of their political affiliation or region—are held accountable for statements that threaten national cohesion.
Their remarks came a day after NCIC Chairperson Samuel Kobia expressed concern over Gachagua’s utterances, arguing that his comments could stir up emotions within the Ameru community.
The commission particularly took issue with Gachagua’s claim that President Ruto was orchestrating a plan to remove Chief Justice Martha Koome due to her ethnic background.
In its statement, the NCIC warned: “Your allegation that there is a scheme by the President to remove the Chief Justice from office because of her ethnicity is misleading, promotes negative ethnicity, and is likely to incite feelings of animosity among Kenyans, thus undermining peaceful coexistence.” The ongoing tensions highlight the broader debate on political and ethnic dynamics in Kenya, with leaders from various factions accusing each other of fostering division while positioning themselves ahead of future elections.
