Senator Sigei slams ‘Mchongoano’ politics, claims NCIC has failed
By Emmanuel Rono, March 19, 2026Bomet Senator Hillary Sigei has rebuked the current political discourse in the country, arguing that the culture of public insults has reached a level that undermines the presidency and national stability.
Speaking during a morning talk show on a local station, Sigei criticised politicians who have substituted objective debate with “mchongoano” at the expense of addressing critical issues facing citizens.
“Is that Mchongoano the one we knew? (Referring to the insults between President William Ruto and former DP Rigathi Gachagua). Have ‘mchongoano’ jokes been taken too far? Kenyans are listening?” Sigei noted.
NCIC actions
Sigei further turned his sights on the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), accusing the body of failing to curb the rising toxic rhetoric among the leaders.
He questioned whether the commission has done anything concerning the insults that the former deputy presidents have been saying since he was kicked out of office.
“We have an institution called NCIC, but what has it done? Since Mr. Gachagua’s impeachment, when the insults began, has it summoned anyone? NCIC has failed in its mandate. It has not taken any action,” Sigei said.
Sigei noted that the Head of State should not be expected to engage with critics who use derogatory language. He said that key allies of President Ruto, including his deputy Kindiki, should step in for the president.
He said the president should be allowed to deliver on his mandate without being insulted.
“People who resort to insults and avoid objective conversations on critical issues affecting Kenyans do not deserve a response from the president,” Sigei stated.
Ruto on Gachagua
The Head of State urged his former deputy to focus on fitness, quipping that Gachagua’s ‘big belly’ could be behind his struggles to stay awake during official meetings.
“Kwanza nawaambia baadhi yenu mwende gym; acheni kula chakula kingi. Matumbo yamejaa hadi vichwa vinakaribia kupasuka. Mnalala kwenye mikutano hata mchana,” Ruto said.
Loosely translated,“I want to ask these people to go to the gym. Stop eating too much, your stomach will burst. You even fall asleep during meetings,” said Ruto.
Gachagua on Ruto’s lost weight
On Monday, March 16, 2026, during the funeral of Kiambu Senator Karungo Thang’wah’s mother, Gachagua trolled President Ruto, claiming that he has lost weight because the opposition is giving him sleepless nights.
He teased that the United Opposition had managed to get into the president’s psyche with the constant criticism of the Kenya Kwanza administration. Gachagua said that the opposition has managed to get into the president’s psyche with the constant criticism of the Kenya Kwanza administration.
“The good thing is that even with all that money, he does not sleep. You can even see how much weight he has lost. He has billions but cannot get rest