NAIROBI, Kenya- Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has accused the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) of acting on behalf of the government, claiming the commission’s decision to investigate him over alleged hate speech is intended to deflect attention from the controversy surrounding Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale’s remarks.
In a statement on Monday, Gachagua alleged that Duale’s remarks targeting the Mt Kenya community had sparked widespread public outrage and become a political liability for the Kenya Kwanza administration.
According to Gachagua, Duale had “made a scathing attack on the people from Mt Kenya” by referring to them as “hyenas” and was subsequently summoned by the NCIC to explain the remarks. The former Deputy President claimed the Cabinet Secretary’s response was to demand that Gachagua also be summoned before he would honour the commission’s invitation.
“He irrationally argued that he would not honour the summons unless Rigathi Gachagua was also summoned over allegations of unspecified tribal remarks and hate speech,” Gachagua said.
The former Deputy President alleged that the NCIC had been directed to investigate him to divert public attention from the backlash against Duale.
“To deflect attention from the outrage his remarks have caused, the NCIC has been directed to purport to investigate Rigathi Gachagua,” he claimed.
Gachagua further accused the commission of lacking independence.
“It is clear that the NCIC is an appendage of the Government and not the independent commission that it ought to be; as such, it should be treated with the contempt it deserves,” he said.
The DCP leader insisted that his public statements have always been factual and maintained that anyone aggrieved by his remarks should seek legal redress through the courts rather than through what he described as politically motivated investigations.
“My remarks to the country, as always, are truthful, factual and authentic; if, in any way, anyone is aggrieved, I invite them to file suit in the courts of law,” he said.
He vowed to continue criticising President William Ruto’s administration despite the ongoing investigations.
“I shall continue calling out Mr William Ruto and his surrogates; a compromised NCIC will not stop me, not even for a minute. The people of Kenya are entitled to the truth, and their liberation is unstoppable,” Gachagua said.
His remarks come amid an escalating political row over alleged ethnic incitement after the NCIC confirmed it had opened investigations into Duale’s controversial remarks.
The Cabinet Secretary has said he will only honour the commission’s summons if Gachagua is also required to appear over what he describes as previous inflammatory statements targeting the Somali and Muslim communities.