NAIVASHA, Kenya — Religious leaders and human rights defenders in Naivasha have called out the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) for what they termed as “continued inaction” in addressing the growing wave of hate speech by political leaders across the country.
The leaders accused the Commission of laxity, saying its failure to take firm action against reckless political utterances was emboldening leaders to make divisive and inflammatory remarks.
Their concerns come in the wake of recent controversial statements made by Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga, which have been widely condemned as inflammatory and a potential threat to national unity.
Bishop George Warui of Joy in Christ Ministries said the current political rhetoric echoes the dangerous tribal tensions that triggered the 2007 post-election violence, which left hundreds dead and thousands displaced.
“We are deeply perturbed by the reckless talks by Governors Kahiga and Wanga. The NCIC should take decisive action to stop these incitements before they tear the country apart,” Bishop Warui said during a press briefing in Naivasha.
He urged political leaders to focus on service delivery and addressing citizens’ economic challenges instead of resorting to tribal politics for short-term political gain.
“Hate speech should never be used to condemn entire communities. Leaders should unite, not divide, Kenyans,” he added.
Human rights defender Edward Maina echoed the bishop’s sentiments, commending Kahiga’s recent resignation as Vice-Chair of the Council of Governors but faulting Wanga for remarks directed at former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, in which she allegedly told him to keep off the Nyanza region.
“As we condemn Governor Kahiga’s remarks, we also put Governor Wanga on notice. All Kenyans have a constitutional right to visit any part of this country,” Maina said.
He emphasized that the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga spent decades advocating for national unity and warned that his death should not be exploited to sow ethnic division or political hostility.
Former Lakeview MCA Simon Wanango also condemned Wanga’s comments, describing them as hate speech that could reignite tensions among communities.
“In Naivasha, we learnt painful lessons from the 2007 violence. We live peacefully with other communities today, and we shall not allow reckless leaders to destroy that peace,” Wanango stated.
The leaders jointly called on the NCIC to enforce existing laws without political bias and to prosecute offenders under the National Cohesion and Integration Act, which criminalizes hate speech and incitement to violence.
Despite several high-profile summonses over the years, no senior politician has ever been successfully prosecuted for hate speech, a fact critics say undermines public confidence in the Commission’s effectiveness.
“If NCIC continues to issue warnings without consequences, politicians will keep pushing the limits,” Maina warned.
The NCIC Act (2008) mandates the Commission to promote ethnic harmony and investigate hate speech, but experts have long faulted its legal framework as weak and politically constrained — an issue even acknowledged recently by NCIC Commissioner Dr. Danvas Makori, who described the threshold for prosecuting hate speech as “intentionally high.”
With the country still mourning the death of Raila Odinga, civic groups are now urging leaders to exercise restraint and focus on unity rather than political point-scoring.
