NAIROBI, Kenya – The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has accused former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua of failing to comply with its summons, further straining relations between him and the agency.
Documents presented before the National Assembly Committee on Administration and Internal Security indicate that Gachagua was among six individuals summoned over alleged hate speech since January 2025.
The list also includes Starehe MP Amos Mwago, Webuye West MP Dan Wanyama, and political activist Calvince Okoth, popularly known as Gaucho, who faces accusations of ethnic discrimination.
However, only Mwago and Sanjeev Kumar responded to the summons, while Gachagua, Wanyama, and Jerotich Kipkoris, also known as Marakwet Daughter, failed to appear.
This development comes after NCIC recently reprimanded Gachagua over remarks deemed inflammatory amid his ongoing political rivalry with President William Ruto.
With tensions rising ahead of the 2027 General Election, NCIC is seeking an additional Sh600 million to enhance its capacity to monitor and tackle hate speech, especially on social media.
Currently, the commission is handling 53 cases related to hate speech and ethnic incitement, with 32 of them under active investigation.
Among those under scrutiny are Gachagua, Dan Wanyama (Webuye West MP), Bernard Kitur (Nandi Hills MP), and Joan Kirong (Kipkateny Ward MCA).
Speaking before the National Assembly committee on Internal Security and Administration,NCIC officials warned that the prevailing political climate could fuel further divisions, stressing the need for adequate resources to curb inflammatory rhetoric.
NCIC Chief Executive Officer Humphrey Kariuki noted that while the commission was allocated Sh567 million for the current financial year, the funds were insufficient to support investigations, digital surveillance, and awareness campaigns.
Commissioner Abdulaziz Ali Farah lamented that budgetary limitations had significantly hindered the commission’s ability to execute its mandate effectively.
“The country is already in a campaign mode, and unless we take a coordinated approach to curb hate speech, tensions will escalate. Currently, most of our budget goes to administrative expenses such as salaries and rent, leaving little for actual interventions,” he said.
Commissioner Danvas Makori disclosed that NCIC was in the process of developing an open-source software to monitor hate speech across online platforms.
He urged lawmakers to allocate more resources, countering claims that the commission had been ineffective.
“There’s a perception that NCIC is inactive, yet we have made significant progress despite financial constraints. We urge the committee to support our work so that we can continue preventing conflicts before they escalate,” Makori stated.
While the parliamentary committee acknowledged the need for increased funding, some legislators criticized NCIC for lacking the authority to take decisive action.
Laikipia North MP Sarah Korere questioned why the commission remained silent when Gachagua made controversial remarks about political shareholding remarks in government.
“When someone was going around lecturing people about shares in leadership, I expected the commission to speak out. You must be more proactive,” she said.
Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma, who previously advocated for the dissolution of NCIC, changed his position and urged the commission to conduct an ethnic audit of public service appointments.
He argued that ensuring fair representation in government jobs would help mitigate ethnic tensions before the 2027 elections.
“If we do not start planning now, we risk witnessing post-election violence worse than what happened in 2007/2008,” he warned.
Committee Vice Chair Dido Rasso raised concerns over NCIC’s ability to effectively monitor online hate speech.
“Your capacity to track social media hate speech is a major concern. Have you engaged the National Police Service on how to tackle this issue?” he inquired.
Despite these concerns, Committee Chairperson Gabriel Tongoyo assured the commission that its request for additional funding would be considered in the next budget cycle.
