The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has cautioned former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua against making statements that could incite ethnic divisions or fuel political tensions in his ongoing disputes with President William Ruto.
The commission took issue with Gachagua’s recent remarks about petitions seeking to remove Chief Justice Martha Koome, accusing him of misusing freedom of speech.
During a speech in Meru, he alleged that President Ruto was plotting to oust the CJ because of her ethnicity, a claim NCIC says is misleading and could stir ethnic tensions.
“Your allegation… is misleading and meant to promote negative ethnicity and likely to incite feelings of animosity among Kenyans thus undermining the peaceful co-existence,” NCIC Chairperson Samuel Kobia stated in a letter dated February 27.
The commission noted that on February 23, while speaking at a church event in Meru County, Gachagua made remarks aimed at provoking emotions within the Ameru community.
It also condemned his warning that President Ruto should not visit Meru if CJ Koome is removed from office, calling it a violation of the president’s constitutional right to travel freely across the country.
While acknowledging the right to free speech, NCIC urged Gachagua to exercise restraint, warning that his words could inflame ethnic tensions.
“You are advised not to engage in utterances that amount to propaganda for war, incitement to violence, hate speech or advocacy of hatred based on discrimination. Our concern as a commission is that such utterances could stir feelings of animosity between communities which is not good for Kenya,” the commission stated.
Since leaving office, Gachagua has been a vocal critic of the Kenya Kwanza government, accusing President Ruto of betrayal and vowing to block his re-election in 2027.
