Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has outlined plans by the ministry to curb hate speech by politicians during rallies.

Speaking during Jukwaa La Usalama in Vihiga on Saturday, September 6, 2025, the CS noted that although levels of hate speech in Kenya have recently gone down, any politician caught propagating it will be charged according to the law.

Murkomen added that the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has already summoned several politicians accused of engaging in hate speech, and their files are under review.

He further revealed that the Director of Public Prosecutions has begun opening cases against the perpetrators. Some of these politicians, he said, have rushed to court to block their arrests, with them arguing that they are exercising their constitutional right to freedom of speech.

“Hate speech is not cordoned in Kenya; you know that. DPP and NCIC have recommended some people to be charged; in some instances, some people have rushed to court to block the arrest, citing the exercise of constitutional freedom,” he said.

He stressed that any instance of hate speech will be dealt with decisively, emphasising that no one is above the law. According to Murkomen, cases of hate speech have reduced in recent years except for a handful of notorious individuals, though even they are beginning to tone down.

The Cabinet Secretary assured that the ministry will ensure all perpetrators are charged in court, vowing that the government will intensify efforts to eliminate hate speech as the country heads toward the polls.

“We continue dealing with these issues; nobody is above the law. Any instance of hate speech will be dealt with decisively. In the recent past, we haven’t been seeing so many cases of hate speech from such few notorious individuals who are known by Kenyans, but they have also begun to reduce their vitriol. We will carry out full enforcement to make sure that our society operates within the law as we prepare for elections.”

Gachagua’s remarks

This comes weeks after the former deputy president, Rigathi Gachagua, was summoned by the NCIC over the remarks he made during the Obinna show live, where he stated that if the IEBC does not take care in 2027, 2007 will look like a Christmas party.