NAIROBI, Kenya — National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has challenged the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) to become more proactive in promoting national unity throughout the year, saying the commission should not only become visible during election periods.
Speaking at Parliament Buildings after meeting an NCIC delegation led by Chairperson Bishop Kepha Omae, Wetang’ula said the commission must rebuild public confidence and address concerns that it only intensifies its activities during elections.
“NCIC suffers from serious trust issues. The Commission was formed after the 2007 post-election violence to help unite the country and bridge political divisions. It should not only be active during elections,” he said.
The Speaker stressed that fostering national cohesion requires continuous civic education and sustained public engagement rather than periodic interventions tied to electoral cycles.
“Changing our mindset through education is far more important,” he said.
Wetang’ula noted that while ethnic identity is a natural part of Kenyan society, it should never be used as a basis for discrimination, exclusion or political division.
“There is nothing wrong with belonging to a particular ethnic community. The problem comes when that identity is used to oppress and disadvantage others,” he said.
He called on the commission to work closely with the Ministry of Education to promote values of unity, tolerance and peaceful coexistence among young people.
“Let us help the Ministry of Education build a culture of unity among our children because they are the ones who will shape the future,” he said.
The Speaker also urged NCIC to strengthen collaboration with key justice and governance institutions, including the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the Judiciary and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), to enhance enforcement of laws against hate speech and incitement.
“You have the power to investigate, but prosecution is the responsibility of the Director of Public Prosecutions. NCIC must define its role, put its house in order and earn the confidence of Kenyans. Parliament will support the Commission within the law,” he said.
Wetang’ula further observed that elections are a continuous process and not merely an event on polling day, urging NCIC to remain vigilant against hate speech and divisive political rhetoric ahead of the 2027 General Election.
“Elections are not just about voting. They are a process, and NCIC has a critical role in protecting communities from hate speech and leaders who spread division,” he said.
NCIC Chairperson Bishop Kepha Omae said the commission had already developed a roadmap to guide its preparations for the 2027 General Election, with a focus on conflict prevention, public engagement and inter-agency collaboration.
“We have a roadmap. We are working with other government agencies and political leaders across the country. Our goal is to reduce political polarisation and ethnic divisions,” Omae said.
He said the commission would continue engaging political leaders to encourage responsible conduct and reduce political tensions.
“We are asking our leaders to lower the political temperature. We want healthy and peaceful politics,” he said.
Omae added that NCIC would expand outreach programmes targeting schools, religious leaders, elders and other community opinion leaders to strengthen national cohesion at the grassroots.
“We will work with schools and other learning institutions. This roadmap will help us address emerging challenges in our communities,” he said.
NCIC Commissioner Jerusha Mwaathime called for Parliament to strengthen the commission’s legal mandate, saying expanded investigative powers would enable it to handle cases more effectively.
“We need stronger legal tools to deal with some of the cases we investigate. The Commission’s powers should be expanded to allow more effective investigations,” she said.
