NCIC Breaks Silence On Rampant Hate Speech, Goes After Duale, Gachagua & Co.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale and Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku are among several leaders under investigation by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) over growing hate speech and incitement.
In a joint statement issued on Tuesday, July 28, with the Interreligious Council of Kenya, the commission also named Busia Governor Paul Nyongesa Otuoma and Mandera Deputy Governor Ali Maalim Mohamud among those under investigation.
Others on the list include Sirisia MP John Waluke, Kipipiri MP Wanjiku Muhia and Nakuru Town East MP David Gikaria.
NCIC Chairperson Reverend Dr Kepha Omae said the investigations are being undertaken in accordance with the law, stressing that all those named are entitled to due process.
“These investigations are being undertaken strictly in accordance with the law. We assure that all persons under investigation retain their full rights until proven guilty,” Omae said.
The commission further disclosed that Tipape Naini Musa and Dr Dennis Ouma are also under investigation, maintaining that it will not be deterred by the positions or influence of any individual under probe.
Omae added that the commission will work closely with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the National Police Service (NPS) and other relevant investigative agencies to ensure anyone found culpable is held accountable.
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Addressing growing calls by Kenyans for the commission to rely on viral social media clips as evidence, Omae said the NCIC follows due process and cannot initiate investigations solely based on short videos circulating online.
Instead, he urged members of the public to formally report cases of alleged incitement and hate speech to the commission by lodging complaints or petitions to facilitate investigations.
“We are an institution that believes in due process. We can’t act on TikTok clips. Report cases of incitement to us,” he said.
The announcement comes a day after Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome criticised Duale over his controversial ethnic remarks, urging him to withdraw the comments and issue an unconditional apology.
In a statement, Wahome said the fact that other leaders may have made offensive remarks in the past did not justify Duale’s comments, urging him to withdraw the remarks and issue an apology.
Her remarks followed Duale’s insistence that he would not apologise and his demand that the NCIC also investigate Gachagua over what he described as repeated tribal remarks before summoning him.
NCIC Breaks Silence On Rampant Hate Speech, Goes After Duale, Gachagua & Co.
