Ousted Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua (left) is among four individuals who refused to appear before the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) to answer to questions relating to hate speech on the day the commission said it requires Sh600 million to monitor the same ahead of the 2027 General-Election.

Documents tabled before MPs who sit in the National Assembly committee on Administration and Internal Security chaired by the Narok West MP Gabriel Tongoyo shows that Gachagua is being investigated on three separate incidents with the first case bordering on ethnic contempt and the others being on hate speech.

Apart from Gachagua, the others who have been summoned by NCIC since January this year, and have also refused to appear to respond to hate speech matters are Webuye West MP Dan Wanyama and activist Jerotich Kipkorir Alias Marakwet Daughter.

Starehe MP Amos Mwago and Sanjeev Kumar who were also summoned appeared before the commission while Calvince Okith alias Gaucho, an activist, although has been summoned was yet to appear.

Active cases

The Commission’s Chief Executive officer Harrison Kariuki appeared before the commission alongside commissioners Abdulziz Farah, Danvas Makori, Sam Kona and Dorcas Kedogo. He said that NCIC is currently managing 53 active cases related to hate speech and ethic contempt out of which 32 are currently under active investigations while nine are undergoing conciliation process.

Seven of the cases, Kariuki said, have been successfully concluded while five are currently being litigated in court.

“NCIC actively works to reduce incidents of hate speech in public spaces through a multi-pronged approach. The Commission receives and processes complaints, monitors public rallies, and actively scans social media platforms for instances of hate speech and ethnic contempt, flagging potential violations for investigation. “

Gachagua is being investigated over his remarks made on February 23, 2025 at a church in Igembe North, Meru County where he warned President William Ruto against setting foot in Meru should Chief Justice Martha Koome be fired from office.